Connector

Abstract

To prevent unintended elimination of a fitting completion state.SOLUTION: A housing 20 includes: a pair of lock arm parts 22; a locking holding part 23 connecting ends of the pair of lock arm parts in a connector fitting direction and locking them to a counterpart locking projection part 521 of a counterpart housing 520 at a fitting completion position; a connection part 24 for connecting the ends of the pair of lock arm parts in a connector extraction direction; a flexible lock arm part 25 for bending itself during connector fitting to climb the locking holding part on the counterpart locking projection part and eliminating its bending at the fitting completion position where the locking holding part climbs over the counterpart locking projection part to lock the locking holding part on the counterpart locking projection part. A fitting assurance member 30 includes a lock arm locking part 35 for locking the lock arm part at the locking position to suppress the motion of the lock arm part eliminating a locking state between the locking holding part and the counterpart locking projection part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional connector is known that maintains a fully mated state with a mating connector by mating with a mating connector and locking a locking portion of its housing with a mating locking portion of the mating housing at the fully mated position. This type of connector is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 045038 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional connectors, the locking and holding portion can be moved to release the locking state with the mating locking and holding portion, thereby separating the connector from the mating connector and disengaging the mating state. Therefore, with conventional connectors, if the locking and holding portion is moved carelessly, there is a risk that the mating state with the mating connector will be unintentionally disengaged.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector that can prevent the unintended release of the mated state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a connector for a terminal-attached electric wire having terminal fittings connected to ends of the electric wire, a housing having a housing main body in which the terminal fittings are accommodated and from which the electric wire is drawn out, and a mating assurance member which is assembled to the housing to ensure that the housing is in a fully mated state with a mating housing, the mating assurance member moving the housing relative to the housing from a temporary locking position to a full locking position when the housing is in a fully mated position with the mating housing, and stopping the housing at the temporary locking position without moving the housing relative to the full locking position when the housing is in a half-mated position with the mating housing, the mating assurance member comprising a pair of locking arms arranged opposite to each other with a gap therebetween and extending in a direction in which the connector is inserted into or removed from the mating housing, and a mating assurance member which connects end portions of the pair of locking arms in the connector mating direction and which ensures that the housing is in a fully mated state with the mating housing. a locking retaining portion that maintains the completed mating state between the mating housing and the mating housing by engaging it with a mating locking protrusion of the mating housing at a full mating position; a connecting portion that connects ends of the pair of locking arms in the connector removal direction; and a flexible locking arm portion that extends from the locking retaining portion in the connector removal direction between the pair of locking arms and is connected to the housing main body at its end, and that flexes when the connectors are mated to cause the locking retaining portion to ride over the mating locking protrusion, and then releases its flexing at the completed mating position where the locking retaining portion has ride over the mating locking protrusion, thereby engaging the locking retaining portion with the mating locking protrusion, and the mating assurance member has a locking arm locking portion that engages the locking arm portion at the full mating position and prevents the locking arm portion from moving in a manner that would release the locked state between the locking retaining portion and the mating locking protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the connector according to the present invention, the lock arm engaging portion of the mating assurance member engages the lock arm portion of the housing in the final engaging position, preventing the lock arm portion from moving in a manner that would disengage the lock retaining portion from the mating connector locking projection. Thus, the connector can maintain a fully mated state with the mating connector. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment together with a mating connector before mating. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connector of the embodiment as seen from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector and the mating connector in a partially mated state, showing the contact start point between the locking holding portion and the mating locking protrusion portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the connector and mating connector in a partially mated state, as viewed from the mating connector side, showing the contact start point between the locking holding portion and the mating locking protrusion portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector and the mating connector in a partially mated state, showing the state in which the locking holding portion rides on the mating locking protrusion portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the connector and mating connector in a partially mated state, as viewed from the mating connector side, showing the state in which the locking holding portion rides on the mating locking protrusion. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connector and the mating connector in the fully mated state, showing the mating assurance member in the provisionally locked position where the locking projection rides on the mating locking projection. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the connector and mating connector in the fully mated state, as viewed from the mating connector side, showing the mating assurance member in the provisionally locked position where the locking protrusion rides on the mating locking protrusion. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the connector and the mating connector in the fully mated state, showing the mating assurance member in the full locking position. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the connector and the mating connector in the fully mated state, as viewed from the mating connector side, showing the mating assurance member in the full locking position. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the connector and the mating connector in the fully mated state, showing the state in which the coupling portion is pushed down while the mating assurance member remains in the full locking position. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 of FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2 of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0010] [Embodiment] A mating connector has two connectors (a first connector and a second connector) that are mated with each other when they are inserted into each other. In this mating connector, the terminal fittings of both connectors are mated with each other when they are inserted and mated, and the terminal fittings are physically and electrically connected to each other. On the other hand, in this mating connector, the connectors are separated with the removal operation from each other, and as a result, the physical and electrical connection between the terminal fittings is released. The insertion direction and removal direction are opposite to each other. Hereinafter, the direction in which one connector is inserted into its counterpart will be referred to as the "connector mating direction," and the direction in which it is removed from its counterpart will be referred to as the "connector removal direction." Furthermore, when these two directions are not specified, they will be referred to as the "connector insertion / removal direction."

[0011] Here, the mated states of each connector are broadly divided into a fully mated state and a partially mated state. The fully mated state refers to the state in which the housings of each connector have been fully inserted and mated to the fully mated position as designed, and the terminal fittings on both sides are physically and electrically connected to each other. The partially mated state refers to any mated state in which the housings of each connector are mated to each other, other than the fully mated state. For example, here, the mated state during the insertion and mating operation of each connector (i.e., the mated state before reaching the fully mated state) is referred to as the partially mated state, and the mated state during the removal operation of each connector (i.e., the mated state after the fully mated state has been released) is also referred to as the partially mated state.

[0012] The following description focuses on one of the first and second connectors, and describes one embodiment of the first connector in conjunction with the other mating connector, with reference to Figures 1 to 20. Here, the first connector is described as a female connector, and the other mating connector is described as a male connector. However, the genders of the first connector and the other mating connector may be reversed.

[0013] 1 to 20, reference numeral 1 designates a connector of this embodiment. This connector 1 includes a terminal-attached electric wire 10, a housing 20, and a mating assurance member 30 (FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0014] The electric wire with terminal 10 includes an electric wire 11 and a terminal fitting 12 connected to an end of the electric wire 11 (FIG. 3). The terminal fitting 12 shown here has a terminal connection portion 12a in the shape of a female terminal. The connector 1 includes three electric wires with terminals 10.

[0015] The housing 20 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, etc. The housing 20 has a housing body 21 in which the terminal fittings 12 are housed and from which the electric wires 11 are drawn out (FIGS. 1 to 11).

[0016] The housing body 21 accommodates three terminal-equipped electric wires 10 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction. The housing body 21 extends in the connector insertion / removal direction and has accommodation sections 21a (hereinafter referred to as "terminal-equipped electric wire accommodation sections") for each terminal-equipped electric wire 10 that accommodate the terminal-equipped electric wire 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The three terminal-equipped electric wire accommodation sections 21a are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction, and adjacent ones are connected to each other.

[0017] The housing body 21 also has a first tubular portion 21b with an elongated cylindrical shape that covers the three terminal-attached wire accommodating portions 21a from the outside and connects them on the inner circumferential surface side (FIG. 3). The three terminal-attached wire accommodating portions 21a protrude from the first tubular portion 21b in the connector fitting direction and the connector removal direction. The three terminal-attached wire accommodating portions 21a accommodate the terminal connecting portions 12a of the terminal fittings 12 in their protruding portions in the connector fitting direction, and allow the electric wires 11 to be drawn outward from their protruding portions in the connector removal direction.

[0018] Furthermore, the housing main body 21 has a second cylindrical portion 21c that is concentric with the first cylindrical portion 21b and that is formed with a cylindrical gap between the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 21b (FIGS. 1 to 11). In this housing main body 21, when the connectors are mated, a mating housing 520 having an elongated cylindrical shape of a mating connector 501 is fitted into the cylindrical gap between the first cylindrical portion 21b and the second cylindrical portion 21c (FIG. 1).

[0019] The connector 1 of this embodiment is provided with a retainer 41 that fits the three terminal-equipped wire accommodating portions 21a therein and holds the terminal connection portions 12a in the three terminal-equipped wire accommodating portions 21a (FIGS. 1 to 3). The retainer 41 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The connector 1 is also provided with an oval ring-shaped packing 42 that closes the oval cylindrical gap between the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular portion 21b and the inner peripheral surface of the mating housing 520 when the mating housing 520 is fitted between the first tubular portion 21b and the second tubular portion 21c to achieve a fully mated state (FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0020] The housing 20 has a pair of locking arm portions 22 arranged opposite each other with a gap between them and extending in the connector insertion / removal direction, a locking retaining portion 23 that connects the ends of the pair of locking arm portions 22 in the connector mating direction and engages with a mating locking protrusion 521 of the mating housing 520 at the mating completion position, thereby maintaining the mating completion state with the mating housing 520, and a connecting portion 24 that connects the ends of the pair of locking arm portions 22 in the connector removal direction (Figures 1 to 11). Furthermore, this housing 20 has a flexible lock arm portion 25 which extends from the locking retaining portion 23 between the pair of locking arm portions 22 in the connector removal direction and is connected to the housing main body 21 at its end, and which flexes when the connectors are mated to cause the locking retaining portion 23 to ride up onto the mating locking protrusion 521, and which then releases its flexure at the mating completion position where the locking retaining portion 23 has climbed over the mating locking protrusion 521, thereby locking the locking retaining portion 23 onto the mating locking protrusion 521 (Figures 1 to 11).

[0021] In this housing 20, a part of the second cylindrical portion 21c of the housing main body 21 is cut out in the connector insertion / removal direction, and a pair of locking arm portions 22, a latching holding portion 23, and a flexible locking arm portion 25 are arranged in the cut-out, seemingly removed location (FIGS. 1 and 5). Therefore, the pair of locking arm portions 22, the latching holding portion 23, and the flexible locking arm portion 25 are arranged radially outside the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 21b, with a gap between them.

[0022] Furthermore, in this housing 20, a pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 are provided, one on the side of one locking arm portion 22 and the other on the side of the other locking arm portion 22 (FIGS. 1 to 3). At the mating completion position, a claw-shaped mating locking protrusion 521 is inserted between the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 and the locking holding portion 23, and at this inserted position, the mating locking protrusion 521 is locked by the locking holding portion 23 (FIGS. 8 and 10).

[0023] The flexible lock arm portion 25 shown here extends from the locking and holding portion 23 in the connector removal direction, is bent at the end of the extension toward the first tubular portion 21b, and is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the first tubular portion 21b (FIG. 12). Thus, the pair of flexible locking arms 25 can bend around a bent portion at one end on the first tubular portion 21b side as a fulcrum, and when the connectors are mated, they bend to cause the locking and holding portion 23 at the other end to ride up onto the mating locking protrusion 521 (FIG. 13), or release their bending at the mating completion position where the locking and holding portion 23 rides over the mating locking protrusion 521, causing the locking and holding portion 23 to be positioned opposite the mating locking protrusion 521 in the connector mating direction (FIGS. 14 and 15).

[0024] Meanwhile, in this housing 20, the connecting portion 24 is used as a release operation portion for releasing the locked state between the locking holding portion 23 and the mating locking protrusion 521. Therefore, in this housing 20, the pair of locking arm portions 22 protrude on the side opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the first tubular portion 21b, and the connecting portion 24 is disposed at a location farther away from the outer circumferential surface of the first tubular portion 21b than the locking holding portion 23 and the flexible locking arm portion 25 (FIGS. 5 and 12). The housing 20 has a fulcrum portion 26 for each locking arm portion 22. When the connecting portion 24 is pushed toward the first cylindrical portion 21b and the connecting portion 24 side of the pair of locking arm portions 22 is pushed down toward the first cylindrical portion 21b, the fulcrum portion 26 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 21c, and when the connecting portion 24 is further pushed toward the first cylindrical portion 21b, the fulcrum portion 26 serves as a fulcrum for the lever (FIGS. 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 16, and 17). The fulcrum portion 26 protrudes from the wall surface of the locking arm portion 22 on the side opposite to the flexible locking arm portion 25, depending on the desired lever ratio. The fulcrum portion 26 shown here is provided approximately in the center of the wall surface of the locking arm portion 22 in the connector insertion / removal direction.

[0025] In this housing 20, by pushing the connecting portion 24 toward the first cylindrical portion 21b at the mating completion position, the connecting portion 24 sides of the pair of locking arm portions 22 are pushed down toward the first cylindrical portion 21b, and the pair of fulcrum portions 26 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 21c. Then, in this housing 20, by further pushing the connecting portion 24 toward the first cylindrical portion 21b, the pair of locking arm portions 22 rotate about the pair of fulcrum portions 26, lifting the locking holding portion 23 sides of the locking arm portions 22 and the locking holding portion 23 in a direction away from the first cylindrical portion 21b and the counterpart housing 520, and bending the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 in a direction away from the first cylindrical portion 21b and the counterpart housing 520, thereby releasing the locked state between the locking holding portion 23 and the counterpart locking protrusion 521.

[0026] The housing 20 has a protective portion 27 that surrounds and protects the pair of locking arm portions 22, the locking holding portion 23, the connecting portion 24, and the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 from the outside (FIGS. 1 to 11). The protective portion 27 has a pair of protective side wall portions 27a that are arranged opposite to each other with a gap between them so as to cover the pair of locking arm portions 22, the locking holding portion 23, and the connecting portion 24 from the outside in the direction in which the pair of locking arm portions 22 are arranged opposite to each other, and protective connecting portions 27b that cover the respective ends of the pair of locking arm portions 22 and the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 that are on the locking holding portion 23 side from the side opposite to the first cylindrical portion 21b side and are connected to the pair of protective side wall portions 27a (FIGS. 1 to 11).

[0027] The mating assurance member 30 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. This mating assurance member 30 is a member that ensures that the housing 20 is in a fully mated state with the mating housing 520, and is assembled to the housing 20. This mating assurance member 30 moves the housing 20 from a temporary locking position to a full locking position relative to the housing 20 when the housing 20 is in a fully mated position with the mating housing 520. This mating assurance member 30 also stops the housing 20 in the temporary locking position when the housing 20 is in a partially mated position with the mating housing 520, without allowing it to move relative to the housing 20 to the full locking position. Therefore, by checking whether the mating assurance member 30 is in the temporary locking position or the full locking position with respect to the housing 20, it is possible to know whether the housing 20 is in a fully mated state or a partially mated state with the mating housing 520. When the mating assurance member 30 is positioned at the full locking position relative to the housing 20, it ensures that the housing 20 is in a mating complete state with the mating housing 520.

[0028] The fitting assurance member 30 has a pair of side walls 31 that are spaced apart and opposed to each other so as to cover the pair of locking arms 22 from the outside in the opposing arrangement direction of the pair of locking arms 22 (FIGS. 1 to 13, 16 and 17). The side walls 31 are formed in a rectangular, one-piece shape, and are disposed between the locking arms 22 and the protective side walls 27a.

[0029] Here, the protective portion 27 of the housing 20 has a locking wall portion 27c for each protective side wall portion 27a that protrudes from the protective side wall portion 27a and is disposed opposite and spaced from the outer wall surface of the second cylindrical portion 21c of the housing 20 (FIGS. 1 to 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 to 15). The distance between the outer wall surface of the second cylindrical portion 21c and the locking wall portion 27c is set to a size that allows relative movement of the side wall portion 31 with respect to the housing 20 between the temporary locking position and the full locking position, while suppressing significant rattle therebetween.

[0030] The mating assurance member 30 also has an operating portion 32 that is operated by, for example, an operator when moving the mating assurance member 30 relative to the housing 20 between the temporary-locking position and the full-locking position (FIGS. 1 to 15). The operating portion 32 is disposed on the connector mating direction side of the connecting portion 24 and on the opposite side of the pair of locking arm portions 22 and the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 from the first cylindrical portion 21b, regardless of whether the mating assurance member 30 is in the temporary-locking position or the full-locking position. The operating portion 32 is connected to the pair of side wall portions 31. At least a portion of the operating portion 32 is exposed on the connector removal direction side of the protective connecting portion 27b, regardless of whether the mating assurance member 30 is in the temporary-locking position or the full-locking position, and the exposed portion is operated by the operator.

[0031] The mating assurance member 30 also has a cantilever-shaped protrusion 33 that protrudes from the operating portion 32 in the connector mating direction, and a locking projection 34 that protrudes from the free end of the protrusion 33 toward the first tubular portion 21b (FIGS. 1 to 15). At the temporary locking position, the locking projection 34 enters between the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 and the locking retaining portion 23, and is positioned opposite the locking retaining portion 23 from the connector removal direction (FIGS. 1, 4, 12, and 13), and at the full locking position, it exits from between the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 and the locking retaining portion 23, and is positioned opposite the locking retaining portion 23 from the connector mating direction (FIG. 15).

[0032] The fitting assurance member 30 has a lock arm engaging portion 35 that engages the lock arm portion 22 at the full engaging position and prevents movement of the lock arm portion 22 that would release the engaged state between the lock holding portion 23 and the mating locking protrusion 521 ( FIGS. 1 , 3 to 5 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 16 , and 17 ). Specifically, the fitting assurance member 30 has a pair of cantilever-shaped flexible portions 36 that are spaced apart from each other and can bend in the opposing arrangement direction so as to cover the pair of lock arm portions 22 from the outside in the opposing arrangement direction of the pair of lock arm portions 22 ( FIGS. 1 and 3 to 17 ). The lock arm engaging portion 35 protrudes from the free end of each flexible portion 36 toward the lock arm portion 22. In this example, the pair of side wall portions 31 each protrude beyond the operating portion 32 in the connector fitting direction, and the protruding portions of the pair of side wall portions 31 each serve as a flexible portion 36 .

[0033] The housing 20 has an inclined surface 28 for each flexible portion 36 that displaces the lock arm engaging portion 35 at the free end of the flexible portion 36 by bending the flexible portion 36 toward the lock arm portion 22 when the fitting assurance member 30 moves relatively from the temporary locking position to the full locking position (FIGS. 1 to 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 17). The inclined surface 28 is formed on a protruding portion that protrudes from the pair of protective side walls 27a toward the lock arm portion 22.

[0034] The lock arm portion 22 has a lock arm engaging portion 22a that inhibits its own movement, which would release the engaged state between the lock holding portion 23 and the mating locking protrusion 521, by engaging with the lock arm engaging portion 35 at the full locking position (FIGS. 1 to 6, 8 to 11, 16, and 17). The lock arm portion 22 shown here has a groove portion 22b that is disposed opposite the inclined surface 28 on the inclined surface 28 side (FIGS. 1 to 6, 8 to 11, 16, and 17). This groove portion 22b is formed on the lock holding portion 23 side of the lock arm portion 22. The wall surface of this groove 22b, into which the lock arm engaging portion 35 is inserted at the full locking position, serves as the lock arm engaging portion 22a. When the locking arm engaging portion 22a shown here is pushed toward the first tubular portion 21b of the connecting portion 24 and the engaging holding portion 23 of the locking arm portion 22 is lifted, it is engaged with the locking arm engaging portion 35 in the groove portion 22b, maintaining the engaging state of the engaging holding portion 23 and the opposing engaging protrusion portion 521 (i.e., the opposing positioning state of the engaging holding portion 23 and the opposing engaging protrusion portion 521 in the connector insertion / removal direction) (Figures 18 to 21).

[0035] In the connector 1 shown above, during mating with the mating connector 501, the locking retaining portion 23 of the housing 20 abuts against the inclined surface 521a of the mating locking protrusion 521 of the mating housing 520 (Figures 4, 5 and 12), and the locking retaining portion 23 rides up onto the mating locking protrusion 521 (Figures 6, 7 and 13).

[0036] In the connector 1 in this semi-fitted state, as the locking and holding portion 23 climbs up, the locking and holding portion 23 receives a force from the inclined surface 521a of the mating locking protrusion 521. In this connector 1, the point of application of this force serves as a fulcrum, and while the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25 of the housing 20 are bent in a direction away from the first cylindrical portion 21b, the locking and holding portion 23 sides of the pair of locking arm portions 22 of the housing 20 are lifted, and the connecting portion 24 sides of the pair of locking arm portions 22 and the connecting portion 24 are lowered toward the first cylindrical portion 21b (FIGS. 6, 7, and 13).

[0037] In addition, in the connector 1 in the semi-mated state, as the locking retaining portion 23 moves up, the pair of side walls 31 of the mating assurance member 30 are sandwiched between the outer wall surface of the second tubular portion 21c of the housing 20 and the locking wall portion 27c, respectively, so that the locking retaining portion 23 lifts the free end of the protrusion 33 of the mating assurance member 30, deflecting the protrusion 33 (FIGS. 6, 7, and 13). In the connector 1 in the semi-mated state, the locking retaining portion 23 is located further in the connector mating direction than the locking protrusion 34 of the mating assurance member 30, so the mating assurance member 30 cannot be moved to the full locking position (FIG. 13). Furthermore, in the connector 1 in the semi-mated state, the fulcrum portion 26 of the housing 20 is located further in the connector removal direction than the locking protrusion 34, so the mating assurance member 30 cannot be moved in the connector removal direction either. Therefore, when the connector 1 is in a semi-fitted state, the fit assurance member 30 can be held in the provisionally locked position.

[0038] Next, this connector 1 advances in mating with the mating connector 501, and reaches a mating completion position between the connector 1 and the mating connector 501 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 14).

[0039] In this connector 1, when the connector reaches the mating completion position, the locking retaining portion 23 climbs over the mating locking protrusion 521, releasing the deflection of the pair of flexible locking arm portions 25, and returning the pair of locking arm portions 22, the locking retaining portion 23, and the connecting portion 24 to the positions before the locking retaining portion 23 abutted against the mating locking protrusion 521 (FIGS. 8, 9, and 14). As a result, in the mating completion state of the connector 1, the mating retaining portion 521 is positioned opposite the mating retaining portion 23 in the connector removal direction, and therefore the connector 1 is maintained in the mating completion position.

[0040] Furthermore, in this fully mated connector 1, the locking protrusion 34 of the mating assurance member 30 rides on the mating locking protrusion 521, so there is nothing for the locking protrusion 34 to hit in the connector mating direction (FIGS. 8, 9, and 14). In this connector 1, the fulcrum 26 of the housing 20 is located on the connector removal direction side of the locking protrusion 34, so the mating assurance member 30 cannot be moved in the connector removal direction. Therefore, in this fully mated connector 1, the mating assurance member 30 can be moved from the temporary locking position to the full locking position.

[0041] In this connector 1, by moving the mating assurance member 30 from the provisional locking position to the full locking position, the locking protrusion 34 passes over the mating locking protrusion 521 and the locking retaining portion 23, thereby eliminating the deflection of the protrusion 33 and positioning the locking protrusion 34 opposite the locking retaining portion 23 in the connector mating direction (FIGS. 10, 11, and 15). As a result, in this fully mated state, the mating assurance member 30 is prevented from moving in the connector removal direction, so the mating assurance member 30 can be held in the full locking position.

[0042] Furthermore, in this connector 1, by moving the mating assurance member 30 from the provisional locking position (Figure 16) to the full locking position (Figure 17), the pair of flexible portions 36 of the mating assurance member 30 are bent toward the locking arm portion 22 by the respective inclined surfaces 28 of the housing 20, and the locking arm locking portions 35 at the free ends of the pair of flexible portions 36 are inserted into the groove portions 22b of the respective locking arm portions 22.

[0043] In connector 1 in this fully mated state, for example, if an inadvertent external force acts to press down connecting portion 24 of housing 20, the locking retaining portion 23 of the pair of locking arm portions 22 begins to be lifted, but the locked arm locking portions 22a of each of the pair of locking arm portions 22 come into contact with the locking arm locking portion 35 of the flexible portion 36 of the mating assurance member 30 (FIGS. 18 to 20). Even if the inadvertent external force continues to act, in this connector 1, the force received by the locking arm locking portion 35 of the flexible portion 36 from the locked arm locking portion 22a is received by the outer wall surface of second tubular portion 21c of housing 20 and locking wall portion 27c via side wall portion 31, and therefore movement of the mating assurance member 30 that would cause the opposing arrangement state of the locking protrusion 34 and the locking retaining portion 23 to be dissolved is inhibited. Therefore, this connector 1 can maintain the mating assurance member 30 in the main locking position, and can suppress further movement of the locking arm portion 22, whose locked arm locking portion 22a abuts against the locking arm locking portion 35 of this mating assurance member 30, so that the opposing arrangement of the locking holding portion 23 and the opposing locking protrusion portion 521 can be maintained.

[0044] In this way, in the connector 1 of this embodiment, the lock arm engaging portion 35 of the mating assurance member 30 engages the lock arm portion 22 of the housing 20 in the full-engagement position, preventing the lock arm portion 22 from moving in a manner that would disengage the engagement between the lock holding portion 23 and the mating locking protrusion 521. Therefore, the connector 1 can continue to maintain the fully mated state with the mating connector 501.

[0045] Furthermore, in the connector 1 of this embodiment, the pair of flexible portions 36 of the mating assurance member 30 are bent toward the locking arm portion 22 by the respective inclined surfaces 28 of the housing 20, thereby sandwiching the pair of flexible portions 36 of the mating assurance member 30 between the pair of inclined surfaces 28. Therefore, this connector 1 can prevent rattling of the mating assurance member 30 relative to the housing 20 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise therebetween. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 connector 10 Wires with terminals 11 Electric wire 12 Terminal fittings 20. Housing 21 Housing body 22 Lock arm part 22a Lock arm engaging portion 22b Groove 23 Lock holding part 24 Connecting part 25 Flexible lock arm 28 Slope 30. Fitting assurance member 35 Lock arm engagement part 36 Flexible part 520 Opponent Housing 521 Counterpart locking protrusion

Claims

1. a terminal-attached electric wire having a terminal metal fitting connected to an end of the electric wire; a housing having a housing main body through which the terminal fittings are housed and through which the electric wires are drawn outward; a mating assurance member that is attached to the housing to assure that the housing is in a fully mated state with the mating housing, the mating assurance member moving the housing relative to the housing from a provisional locking position to a full locking position when the housing is in a fully mated position with the mating housing, and stopping the housing at the provisional locking position without moving the housing relative to the full locking position when the housing is in a partially mated position with the mating housing; Equipped with the housing has a pair of locking arm portions disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween and extending in a direction in which the connector is inserted into or removed from the mating housing; a locking retaining portion connecting ends of the pair of locking arm portions in the connector mating direction and engaging with a mating locking protrusion of the mating housing at the mating completion position, thereby maintaining the mating completion state between the mating housing and the mating housing; a connecting portion connecting ends of the pair of locking arm portions in the connector removal direction; and a flexible locking arm portion extending from the locking retaining portion in the connector removal direction between the pair of locking arm portions, connecting to the housing main body at its end, bending itself during connector mating to cause the locking retaining portion to ride on the mating locking protrusion, and releasing its bending at the mating completion position where the locking retaining portion has overcome the mating locking protrusion, thereby locking the locking retaining portion with the mating locking protrusion. a mating assurance member having a lock arm engaging portion that engages the lock arm portion at the main engaging position and prevents the lock arm portion from moving to release the engaged state between the engaging holding portion and the mating engaging protrusion portion.

2. the fitting assurance member has a pair of cantilever-shaped flexible portions that are spaced apart from each other and can be flexibly deformed in the opposing arrangement direction of the pair of locking arm portions so as to cover the pair of locking arm portions from the outside in the opposing arrangement direction of the pair of locking arm portions, the lock arm engaging portion projects from a free end of the flexible portion toward the lock arm portion for each of the flexible portions, the housing has an inclined surface for each flexible portion that deflects the flexible portion toward the lock arm portion when the fitting assurance member moves relatively from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, thereby displacing the lock arm locking portion at the free end of the flexible portion; 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking arm portion has a locking arm engaging portion that inhibits its own movement, which would release the engaged state between the engaging holding portion and the mating engaging protrusion portion, by engaging with the locking arm engaging portion at the main engaging position.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the locking arm portion has a groove portion, the wall surface of which serves as the locking arm engaging portion within the groove into which the locking arm engaging portion is inserted at the full locking position.

Images