Connector unit

Abstract

To provide a connector unit capable of attaining improvement of cancellation operability when cancelling fitting of a connector.SOLUTION: In a connector unit, a female housing 20 comprises an arm part 22 opposed to an inner side wall surface of a cylindrical part 11 of a male housing 10 in a fitting state. The arm part 22 is supported by a terminal holding part 21, extends from a proximal end portion to the other side in an axial direction X, and is formed in such a manner that a distal end portion forms a free end, and the arm part can be bent in a height direction Z with the proximal end portion defined as a fulcrum. The cylindrical part 11 includes a lock portion which locks the arm part 22 and an exposure hole in which an outer side wall surface of the arm part is exposed outside of a fitting space part 13 as an unlocking part in the fitting state. The arm part 22 includes a locked portion which is formed on the side of the distal end portion and locked by the lock portion in a state where the unlocking part is exposed in the exposure hole, and the locked portion is unlocked from the lock portion by pressing the unlocking part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In a conventional connector unit in which a female connector is fitted to a male connector, there is a type in which the lock is released by pressing down near the fulcrum of a lock arm that is configured to bend to release the lock (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-018521 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, some of the conventional connector units described above require a high unlocking force because the locking arm is configured to bend to release the lock when pressed near its fulcrum, leaving room for improvement in terms of ease of unlocking.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector unit that can improve the ease of disengagement when disengaging connectors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a connector unit according to the present invention comprises a first connector having a first housing that holds first terminals along an axial direction, and a second connector having a second housing that is formed to be fittable with the first housing and that holds second terminals along the axial direction to be connected to the first terminals, wherein the first housing has a fitting space into which the second housing fits via an opening that opens toward one side of the axial direction, and a cylindrical portion that forms the opening and the fitting space, and the second housing has a terminal holding portion that holds the second terminals and fits into the fitting space, and a terminal holding portion that is formed on the terminal holding portion and that forms a contact hole on an inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion when the second housing is fitted into the first housing. and an arm portion having outer wall surfaces facing each other in a height direction perpendicular to the mating direction, a base end supported by the terminal holding portion, extending from the base end toward the other side of the axial direction with a tip end forming a free end, the arm portion being capable of bending in the height direction with the base end as a fulcrum, the tubular portion being formed to protrude from the inner wall surface toward the mating space portion and having a locking portion that locks the arm portion in the mated state, and an exposure hole that exposes the outer wall surface of the arm portion located on the tip end side of the arm portion to the outside of the mating space portion as an unlocking portion in the mated state, the arm portion having a locked portion formed on the tip end side that is locked to the locking portion in an exposed state with the unlocking portion exposed in the exposure hole, and the locked portion is unlocked from the locking portion when the unlocking portion is pressed down toward the mating space portion through the exposure hole in the mated state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The connector unit according to the present invention has the effect of improving the ease of disengagement operability when disengaging the mated connectors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire connector unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the connector unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the connector unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a locking portion before the first connector and the second connector according to the embodiment are locked together. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the locking portion after the first connector and the second connector according to the embodiment are locked together. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the locking portion in a state where the lock release portion according to the embodiment is pressed down. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. That is, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0010] In the following description, for convenience, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in the drawings will be referred to as the "axial direction X," the Y direction as the "width direction Y," and the Z direction as the "height direction Z." The axial direction X, width direction Y, and height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. The axial direction X corresponds to the insertion / removal direction of the female connector 3 relative to the male connector 2 in the connector unit 1, with one side of the axial direction X being the insertion direction X1 of the female connector 3 relative to the male connector 2 and the other side being the removal direction X2 of the female connector 3 relative to the male connector 2. The height direction Z corresponds to the thickness direction of the connector unit 1, with one side of the height direction Z being the first direction Z1 and the other side being the second direction Z2. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description will be described as directions in the connector unit 1 when the female connector 3 is mated with the male connector 2. In the following description, the male terminals 6 and the female terminals 7 are each connected to an electric wire W.

[0011] [Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1 , the connector unit 1 according to this embodiment includes a male connector 2 and a female connector 3. The connector unit 1 is incorporated into a wire harness WH that is installed in a vehicle such as an automobile. The wire harness WH is, for example, a component in which a plurality of electric wires W used for power supply and signal communication are bundled together to connect various devices mounted on the vehicle, and the plurality of electric wires W are connected to the devices using a connector unit 1 or the like. The wire harness WH includes a plurality of conductive electric wires W each having terminals at its end, and a connector unit 1 that houses and holds the terminals. The wire harness WH may further include a protector, a fixture, and the like.

[0012] The electric wire W is configured to include, for example, a linear conductor portion having electrical conductivity and an insulating coating having electrical insulation properties that covers the outside of the conductor portion. The electric wire W is an insulated electric wire in which the conductor portion is covered with an insulating coating. The conductor portion is, for example, a core wire in which a plurality of conductive metal wires are bundled together, but it may also be a twisted core wire in which the plurality of metal wires are twisted together. The insulating coating is an electric wire coating that covers the outer periphery of the conductor portion. The insulating coating is formed, for example, by extrusion molding an insulating resin material (PP, PVC, cross-linked PE, etc., appropriately selected in consideration of abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, etc.).

[0013] The electric wires W each extend linearly along the axial direction X, and are formed to extend with approximately the same diameter relative to the axial direction X. In addition, the electric wires W are formed, for example, such that the cross-sectional shape of the conductor portion (cross-sectional shape intersecting the axial direction X) is approximately circular and the cross-sectional shape of the insulating coating is approximately annular, so that the electric wires W are formed to have an approximately circular cross-sectional shape as a whole. At least one end of the electric wires W has the insulating coating stripped away, and a male terminal 6 or a female terminal 7 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, is crimped to the conductor portion exposed from the insulating coating.

[0014] The connector unit 1 includes a male connector 2 and a female connector 3. When the female connector 3 is mated with the male connector 2, the male terminals 6 in the male connector 2 are mated with the female terminals 7 in the female connector 3, and they are electrically connected through mutual conduction.

[0015] The male connector 2 is an example of a first connector, and as shown in Fig. 2, accommodates and holds male terminals 6 provided at the ends of electric wires W routed in the removal direction X2. The male connector 2 has a male spacer 4, multiple male terminals 6, and a male housing 10 that accommodates and holds the multiple male terminals 6 along the axial direction X.

[0016] The male spacer 4 is made of an insulating synthetic resin material and collectively locks the multiple male terminals 6 accommodated in the male housing 10 to the male housing 10. Before the male terminals 6 are accommodated in the male housing 10, the male spacer 4 is fitted to the male housing 10 from one side in the height direction Z (second direction Z2).

[0017] The male terminal 6 is an example of a first terminal, and is a male-type terminal fitting made of a conductive metal material, which is electrically connected to the female terminal 7 of the female connector 3. The male terminal 6 is configured to include, for example, an electrical connection portion electrically connected to the female terminal 7, and an electric wire crimping portion electrically connected to the end of the electric wire W. The female terminal 7 is a female-type terminal fitting made of a conductive metal material, which is electrically connected to the male terminal 6. The female terminal 7 is configured to include an electric connection portion electrically connected to the male terminal 6, and an electric wire crimping portion electrically connected to the end of the electric wire W.

[0018] The male housing 10 is an example of a first housing, and is made of an insulating synthetic resin material, and holds the male spacer 4 and the male terminals 6. The male housing 10 is formed so that the female housing 20 can be fitted into it from the removal direction X2 while holding the male spacer 4 and the male terminals 6. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the male housing 10 includes a cylindrical portion 11 and a fitting space portion 13.

[0019] The cylindrical portion 11 is what is called a male hood, and is a portion that forms the opening 12 and the mating space 13 in the male housing 10. The cylindrical portion 11 is open on the removal direction X2 side by the opening 12 and closed on the insertion direction X1 side by the terminal holding portion 14. The opening 12 is a portion of the cylindrical portion 11 that opens toward one side of the axial direction X (removal direction X2). The opening 12 is formed into a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the axial direction X. The terminal holding portion 14 is a portion that accommodates and holds the male terminals 6. The terminal holding portion 14 is capable of holding multiple male terminals 6. The terminal holding portion 14 is provided facing the mating space 13 and holds the male terminals 6 along the axial direction X with their electrical connection portions exposed in the mating space 13. The terminal holding portion 14 has one or more terminal accommodating chambers 15 therein. The terminal accommodating chambers 15 are portions that accommodate the male terminals 6. The terminal accommodating chamber 15 is formed to be hollow and approximately rectangular parallelepiped-shaped. For example, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 15 are provided lined up in the width direction Y and the height direction Z according to the number of female terminals 7 accommodated in the female housing 20. The terminal accommodating chambers 15 extend in the axial direction X inside the terminal holding portion 14, penetrate the terminal holding portion 14, and communicate with the external space in the axial direction X.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cylindrical portion 11 has a locking portion 30 and an exposure hole 31. As shown in Figure 4, the locking portion 30 is formed to protrude from the inner wall surface 11a of the cylindrical portion 11 toward the fitting space 13, and locks the arm portion 22 in a fitted state (see Figure 3) in which the female connector 3 is fitted into the male connector 2. The inner wall surface 11a is formed facing the fitting space 13, and is composed of a pair of inner wall surfaces on shorter sides opposed to each other in the height direction Z and a pair of inner wall surfaces on longer sides opposed to each other in the width direction Y.

[0021] The locking portion 30 is formed on one of the inner wall surfaces 11a on the longer side. When the male housing 10 is viewed from the height direction Z, the locking portion 30 is disposed near the exposure hole 31 and is located on the removal direction X2 side of the exposure hole 31. The cross section of the locking portion 30 in the height direction Z is formed to be rectangular.

[0022] The exposure hole 31 exposes the arm outer wall surface 40 located on the tip end 42 side of the arm portion 22 to the outside of the mating space 13 as an unlocking portion 40a (see FIGS. 3 and 4) described below when the female connector 3 is mated with the male connector 2. When the male housing 10 is viewed from the height direction Z, the exposure hole 31 is located on the cylindrical portion 11 side at the boundary between the cylindrical portion 11 and the terminal holding portion 14 and is formed in a rectangular shape. The exposure hole 31 is arranged in a position where the unlocking portion 40a can be visually confirmed at least in the first direction Z1 when the female connector 3 is mated with the male connector 2. It is preferable that the exposure hole 31 has an opening width that allows at least a fingertip to touch and press down the unlocking portion 40a exposed from the exposure hole 31 in the mated state.

[0023] The fitting space 13 is formed inside the cylindrical portion 11, and is a portion into which the female housing 20 fits via the opening 12. The fitting space 13 communicates with the external space via the opening 12.

[0024] Next, we will explain the female connector 3. The female connector 3 is an example of a second connector, and as shown in Fig. 2, it accommodates and holds a female terminal 7 provided at the end of an electric wire W routed in the insertion direction X1. The female connector 3 has a female spacer 5, the female terminal 7, and a female housing 20 that is formed to be able to fit into the male housing 10 and that holds the female terminal 7 connected to the male terminal 6 along the axial direction X.

[0025] The female spacer 5 is made of an insulating synthetic resin material and holds the female terminal 7 along the inside. Before the female terminal 7 is accommodated in the female housing 20, the female spacer 5 is fitted to the female housing 20 from one side in the height direction Z (second direction Z2).

[0026] The female terminal 7 is an example of a second terminal, and is a female terminal fitting made of a conductive metal material, which is electrically connected to the male terminal 6. The female terminal 7 includes an electrical connection portion electrically connected to the male terminal 6, and an electric wire crimping portion electrically connected to the end of the electric wire W.

[0027] The female housing 20 is an example of a second housing, and is made of an insulating synthetic resin material, and holds the female spacer 5 and the female terminals 7. The female housing 20 is formed so that it can be fitted into the male housing 10 in the insertion direction X1 while holding the female spacer 5 and the female terminals 7. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the female housing 20 includes a terminal holding portion 21 and an arm portion 22.

[0028] The terminal holding portion 21 is a portion that accommodates and holds the female terminals 7 and is fitted into the fitting space portion 13. The terminal holding portion 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has one or more terminal accommodating chambers 23 inside. The terminal accommodating chambers 23 are portions that accommodate the female terminals 7. The terminal accommodating chambers 23 are formed in a hollow and substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers 23 are provided side by side in the width direction Y and the height direction Z according to the number of male terminals 6 accommodated in the male housing 10. The terminal accommodating chambers 23 extend in the axial direction X inside the terminal holding portion 21, penetrate the terminal holding portion 21, and communicate with the external space in the axial direction X.

[0029] The terminal holding portion 21 has two holding portion outer peripheral wall surfaces 24, 25 facing each other in the height direction Z, and a groove portion 26 formed in a concave shape from one holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24 toward the other holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 25 and opening toward the other side of the axial direction X (insertion direction X1). When viewed from the height direction Z, the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24 has two slits 28 that extend from the end on the insertion direction X1 side toward the removal direction X2 side and are spaced apart in the width direction Y.

[0030] The arm portion 22 is formed on the terminal holding portion 21, has a base end 41 supported by the terminal holding portion 21, extends from the base end 41 toward the other side of the axial direction X, and has a tip end 42 which forms a free end, and is capable of bending in the height direction Z with the base end 41 as a fulcrum. The arm portion 22 is formed in a flat, band-like shape. The arm portion 22 is accommodated in the groove portion 26 with the tip end 42 facing the opening 27 of the groove portion 26. The arm portion 22 includes an arm portion outer wall surface 40 and a locked portion 43.

[0031] The arm outer wall surface 40 constitutes a part of the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24. The arm outer wall surface 40 is connected to the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24 at a base end 41 and is located between two slits 28 formed in the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24. When the arm portion 22 of this embodiment is viewed from the axial direction X of the terminal holding portion 21, the arm outer wall surface 40 is located on the same plane as the holding portion outer peripheral wall surfaces 24 located on both sides of the groove portion 26 in the width direction Y. In other words, the arm outer wall surface 40 of the arm portion 22 is not located on the first direction Z1 side of the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24. When the female housing 20 is fitted into the male housing 10, the arm outer wall surface 40 faces the inner wall surface 11a of the tubular portion 11 in the height direction Z.

[0032] The locked portion 43 is formed on the tip end 42 side of the arm portion 22, and is a portion that is locked to the locking portion 30 of the male housing 10 in an exposed state where the unlocking portion 40a is exposed in the exposure hole 31 of the male housing 10. The locked portion 43 is, for example, a through hole that penetrates the arm portion 22 in the thickness direction (height direction Z). The locked portion 43 abuts against the locking portion 30 in the removal direction X2 in an engaged state where the female connector 3 is engaged with the male connector 2 (see FIG. 7). The locked portion 43 is on the tip end 42 side of the arm portion 22, and is arranged in a position near or adjacent to the unlocking portion 40a.

[0033] Next, the state change of the locking structure when the female housing 20 is mated with and separated from the male housing 10 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. FIG.

[0034] First, the state change during mating will be described. The operator inserts the end of the female connector 3 on the insertion direction X1 side into the mating space 13 through the opening 12 of the male connector 2 and pushes it in the insertion direction X1. As a result, the arm portion 22 moves along the inner wall surface 11a of the tubular portion 11, as shown in FIG. 6, and the tip portion 42 abuts against the locking portion 30 on the inner wall surface 11a from the removal direction X2. Then, while the arm portion 22 bends in the second direction Z2 due to elastic deformation, the tip portion 42 moves over the locking portion 30 from the second direction Z2 side toward the insertion direction X1. When the locked portion 43 moves toward the insertion direction X1 side of the locking portion 30, the arm portion 22 elastically returns, and the tip portion 42 moves toward the insertion direction X1 side of the locking portion 30, so that the locking portion 30 and the locked portion 43 face each other in the axial direction X. Then, the unlocking portion 40a is exposed from the exposure hole 31, and the male housing 10 and the female housing 20 are mated (see FIG. 7). Therefore, if the unlocking portion 40a is not exposed from the exposure hole 31, the worker can recognize that the mating state is incomplete.

[0035] Next, a description will be given of the state change that occurs when the female housing 20 is removed from the male housing 10. When an operator presses the unlocking portion 40a exposed in the exposure hole 31 with a finger or the like, the arm portion 22 is elastically deformed to bend in the second direction Z2, and the tip portion 42 moves in the second direction Z2. As a result, of the locked portion 43 and the locking portion 30 that face each other in the axial direction X, the locked portion 43 shifts in the second direction Z2, and the locked portion 43 is unlocked from the locking portion 30 (see FIG. 8). At this time, when the operator moves the female housing 20 in the removal direction X2, the tip portion 42 moves in the removal direction X2, climbing over the locking portion 30 from the second direction Z2. As a result, the female connector 3 is removed from the mating space 13 through the opening 12 of the male connector 2.

[0036] As described above, the connector unit 1 according to this embodiment includes a male connector 2 having a male housing 10, and a female connector 3 having a female housing 20 formed to be able to fit into the male housing 10. The male housing 10 has a mating space 13 into which the female housing 20 fits via an opening 12, and a tubular portion 11 that forms the opening 12 and the mating space 13. The female housing 20 has a terminal holding portion 21 that fits into the mating space 13, and an arm portion 22 formed in the terminal holding portion 21, with the arm portion outer wall surface 40 facing the inner wall surface 11a of the tubular portion 11 in the height direction Z when the female housing 20 is fitted into the male housing 10. The arm portion 22 has a base end 41 supported by the terminal holding portion 21, extending from the base end 41 toward the other side of the axial direction X, with the tip end 42 forming a free end, and is formed to be flexible in the height direction Z with the base end 41 as a fulcrum. The cylindrical portion 11 has a locking portion 30 that locks the arm portion 22 in the mated state, and an exposure hole 31 that exposes the arm portion outer wall surface 40 as an unlocking portion 40a to the outside of the mating space 13 in the mated state. The arm portion 22 has a locked portion 43 formed on the tip end 42 side that is locked by the locking portion 30 in an exposed state with the unlocking portion 40a exposed in the exposure hole 31. The locked portion 43 is unlocked from the locking portion 30 when the unlocking portion 40a is pressed down toward the mating space 13 via the exposure hole 31 in the mated state.

[0037] With the above-described configuration, the connector unit 1 allows, for example, a worker performing maintenance on a vehicle to press down the unlocking portion 40a exposed from the exposure hole 31 in the mated state to unlock the arm portion 22. As a result, the connector unit 1 allows the shape of the arm portion 22 of the female connector 3 to be simplified compared to conventional connector units. Furthermore, the connector unit 1 allows a worker to easily determine whether the mated state is incomplete by visually checking the unlocking portion 40a exposed from the exposure hole 31.

[0038] Furthermore, in the connector unit 1, the locked portion 43 is located on the tip end 42 side of the arm portion 22, near or adjacent to the unlocking portion 40a. As a result, compared to conventional connector units, the unlocking portion 40a is located on the force point side, away from the fulcrum of the arm portion 22, so it is possible to reduce the unlocking operation force required to press down the arm portion 22 to unlock. As a result, the connector unit 1 improves the ease of release when releasing the mated connectors.

[0039] Furthermore, in the connector unit 1 according to this embodiment, the exposure hole 31 is disposed at a position where the unlocking portion 40a can be visually confirmed in the first direction Z1 in a mated state where the female housing 20 is mated with the male housing 10. This improves the visibility of the unlocking portion 40a in the connector unit 1 and also improves the operability for pressing down the unlocking portion 40a.

[0040] Furthermore, in the connector unit 1 according to this embodiment, the terminal holding portion 21 has a groove portion 26 that is concavely formed from the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24 toward the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 25 and that opens in the insertion direction X1. The arm portion 22 is received in the groove portion 26 with the tip portion 42 facing the opening 27. This allows the connector unit 1 to have a lower height in the height direction Z (thickness of the connector unit 1) compared to, for example, a conventional connector unit in which the arm portion 22 on the female connector 3 side is positioned outside the tubular portion 11 on the male connector 2 side in the mated state, and the connector unit 1 can be made smaller.

[0041] Furthermore, in the connector unit 1 according to the above embodiment, when the terminal holding portion 21 is viewed from the axial direction X, the arm portion outer wall surface 40 of the arm portion 22 is located on the same plane as the holding portion outer peripheral wall surfaces 24 located on both sides of the groove portion 26 in the width direction Y. As a result, the connector unit 1 accommodates the arm portion 22 in the groove portion 26, and then positions the arm portion 22 at a position where the arm portion outer wall surface 40 and the holding portion outer peripheral wall surface 24 are on the same plane, thereby easily ensuring a depression margin for the unlocking portion 40a to be depressed between the groove portion 26 (or its bottom) and the arm portion 22.

[0042] In the above embodiment, a male terminal 6 is used as the first terminal and a female terminal 7 is used as the second terminal, but this is not limited to this, and a female terminal may be used as the first terminal and a male terminal as the second terminal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Connector unit 2 Male connector (first connector) 3 female connector (second connector) 4 male spacers 5 female spacers 6 Male terminal (first terminal) 7 Female terminal (second terminal) 10 Male housing (first housing) 11 Cylindrical part 11a Inner wall 12 Opening 13 Fitting space 20 Female housing (second housing) 21 Terminal holding part 22 Arm section 30 Locking part 31 Exposure hole 40 Outer wall of arm 40a Unlocking part 41 Proximal end 42 Tip 43 Locked part W electric wire

Claims

1. a first connector having a first housing that holds a first terminal along an axial direction; a second connector including a second housing formed to be fittable with the first housing and holding second terminals connected to the first terminals along the axial direction, The first housing includes: a fitting space into which the second housing fits via an opening that opens toward one side in the axial direction; a cylindrical portion that forms the opening and the fitting space, The second housing includes: a terminal holding portion that holds the second terminal and is fitted into the fitting space; an arm portion formed on the terminal holding portion, which has an outer wall surface of an arm portion that faces an inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion in a height direction perpendicular to the axial direction when the second housing is fitted into the first housing, and which has a base end supported by the terminal holding portion, extends from the base end toward the other side of the axial direction, and has a tip end that forms a free end, and is capable of bending in the height direction with the base end as a fulcrum; The cylindrical portion is a locking portion formed to protrude from the inner wall surface toward the fitting space portion and to lock the arm portion in the fitted state; an exposure hole that exposes the outer wall surface of the arm portion located on the tip end side of the arm portion in the fitted state to the outside of the fitting space as an unlocking portion, The arm portion a locking portion formed on the tip end side and locked to the locking portion in an exposed state in which the unlocking portion is exposed in the exposure hole; The locked portion is In the fitted state, the unlocking portion is pressed down toward the fitting space portion through the exposure hole, thereby unlocking the locking portion. A connector unit characterized by:

2. The exposure hole is In the fitted state, the lock release portion is disposed at a position where it can be visually confirmed at least in the height direction. The connector unit according to claim 1 .

3. The terminal holding portion is Two holding portion outer peripheral wall surfaces facing each other in the height direction; a groove formed in a concave shape from one of the holding portion outer peripheral wall surfaces toward the other of the holding portion outer peripheral wall surfaces and opening toward the other side in the axial direction, The arm portion The tip end is accommodated in the groove portion so as to face the opening side. The connector unit according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The arm portion When the terminal holding portion is viewed from the axial direction, the outer wall surface of the arm portion is flush with the outer wall surfaces of the holding portion that are located on both sides of the groove in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the height direction. The connector unit according to claim 3 .

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