Connector device

Abstract

To prevent twisting in a mating process.SOLUTION: A connector device includes: a first housing 30 and a second housing 50 that can be fitted to each other; a first gear 37 and a second gear 57 that are rotatably attached to the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 at intervals in a first intersecting direction (left-right direction) that intersects the fitting direction (front-rear direction) of the pair of housings 30 and 50; a first rack 34 formed in the first housing 30; and a second rack 55 formed in the second housing 50. When the first gear 37 meshes with a second rack 55 and the second gear 57 rotates in a state of meshing with a first rack 55, the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are fitted to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a device that uses a gear and a rack to mate a plug connector housing and a receptacle connector housing. A gear attached to the plug connector housing meshes with a rack formed on the receptacle connector housing, and when the gear is rotated, the plug connector housing and the receptacle connector housing approach each other and are mated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-199905 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Since the gear is disposed on only one of the two outer surfaces of the plug connector housing, there is a risk that the two connector housings may be twisted during the mating process.

[0005] The connector device of the present disclosure was developed based on the above circumstances, and aims to prevent twisting during the mating process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector device of the present disclosure comprises: a pair of housings that can be fitted together; a pair of gears rotatably attached to the housings at an interval in a first intersecting direction intersecting a fitting direction of the pair of housings; a pair of racks formed on the housing; The pair of gears rotate in mesh with the pair of racks, thereby fitting the pair of housings together. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent twisting during the fitting process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connector device of the first embodiment as viewed obliquely from the right rear. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the connector device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the left rear. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of the first support member shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the front left. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the first support member shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the front right. [Figure 5] 5 is a perspective view of the first housing and the first gear shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the rear right. [Figure 6] 6 is a perspective view of the first housing and the first gear shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the front left. [Figure 7] 7 is a perspective view of the second connector shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the front left. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view of the second connector shown in FIG. 1 in an exploded state, as viewed obliquely from the front left. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a right-side cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the first cam protrusion and the first cam surface in the state where the first housing and the second housing start to be fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a right-side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the first gear and the second rack are engaged with each other when the first housing and the second housing start to be fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a left side cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the second cam projection and the second cam surface in the state where the first housing and the second housing start to be fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a left sectional view illustrating a meshing state between the second gear and the first rack in the state where the first housing and the second housing start to be fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a right-side cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the first cam protrusion and the first cam surface in a state where the first housing and the second housing are completely fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a right-side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the first gear and the second rack are engaged with each other when the first housing and the second housing are completely fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a left side cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the second cam protrusion and the second cam surface in a state where the first housing and the second housing are completely fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a left side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the second gear and the first rack are engaged with each other when the first housing and the second housing are completely fitted together in the first embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 7 is a right-side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the first housing and the second housing have been fitted together and the first support member and the second support member have been assembled in the first embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 8 is a left cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the first housing and the second housing have been fitted together and the first support member and the second support member have been assembled in the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. Any combination of the following multiple embodiments within a range that does not cause contradictions is also included in the description of the present invention. The connector device of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A mating device includes a pair of housings that can be fitted together, a pair of gears rotatably attached to the housings at a distance in a first intersecting direction that intersects the fitting direction of the pair of housings, and a pair of racks formed on the housings, and the pair of housings are fitted together by rotating the pair of gears while meshing with the pair of racks. With this configuration, a fitting force due to the meshing of the gears and racks is generated at two locations spaced apart in the first intersecting direction that intersects the fitting direction of the pair of housings. Therefore, during the fitting process, the pair of housings are less likely to be twisted in a way that makes them appear oblique when viewed in a second intersecting direction that intersects both the fitting direction and the first intersecting direction.

[0010] (2) In (1), the pair of housings may include a first housing and a second housing, the pair of gears may include a first gear attached to the first housing and a second gear attached to the second housing, the pair of racks may include a first rack formed on the first housing and a second rack formed on the second housing, the first gear and the second rack mesh with each other, and the second gear and the first rack may mesh with each other. With this configuration, compared to a case where a pair of gears is provided on one housing and a pair of racks is provided on the other housing, a large amount of movement of the pair of housings can be ensured even with a low rotation speed of the gears.

[0011] (3) In (2), it is preferable that the pair of gears are arranged with their central rotation axes facing the first intersecting direction, and the first rack and the second rack are arranged to mesh with each other from opposite sides of the pair of gears when viewed in the first intersecting direction. With this configuration, during the fitting process, the first housing and the second housing are less likely to be twisted in a way that causes them to become oblique when viewed in the first intersecting direction.

[0012] (4) In (1) to (3), it is preferable that the pair of gears are arranged with their central rotation axes facing the first intersecting direction, the pair of housings are movable relative to a first support member in a second intersecting direction intersecting both the mating direction and the first intersecting direction, the pair of gears have cam protrusions at positions eccentric to the central rotation axes, the first support member has cam surfaces oriented intersecting the second intersecting direction, and the pair of gears rotate when the cam protrusions come into contact with the cam surfaces during the process of the pair of housings moving relative to the first support member in the second intersecting direction. With this configuration, the pair of housings can be mated while being moved in the second intersecting direction intersecting the mating direction.

[0013] (5) In (4), it is preferable that the pair of housings includes a first housing and a second housing, the first housing is guided to be movable relative to a first support member in the second intersecting direction, the second housing is supported to be movable relative to the second support member in the mating direction, and the second support member is guided to be movable relative to the first support member in the second intersecting direction. According to this configuration, the first housing and the second housing can be mated by moving the first support member and the second support member relative to each other in the second intersecting direction.

[0014] (6) In (5), it is preferable that the first support member has a positional deviation absorbing groove that allows the cam protrusion to move relative to the first support member in the second intersecting direction when the first housing and the second housing are completely fitted together. According to this configuration, if the relative positional relationship between the first support member and the second support member in the second intersecting direction exceeds the tolerance range when the first housing and the second housing are completely fitted together, the cam protrusion can be moved within the positional deviation absorbing groove to move the first support member and the second support member relative to each other so that the positional relationship is within the tolerance range.

[0015] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] [Example 1] A connector device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 18. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. In this first embodiment, with regard to the front-to-back direction, the F direction in Figures 1 to 18 is defined as the front. With regard to the up-down direction, the H direction in Figures 1 to 18 is defined as the up. With regard to the left-to-right direction, the R direction in Figures 1 to 8 is defined as the right.

[0016] The front-rear direction is synonymous with the mating direction, which is the direction of relative movement when the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 described below are mated or separated. The left-right direction is synonymous with the first intersecting direction, which is perpendicular to the mating direction. The up-down direction is synonymous with the second intersecting direction, which is perpendicular to both the mating direction and the first intersecting direction.

[0017] The connector device of the first embodiment is a device for assembling a first connector 10 and a second connector 40. The first connector 10 and the second connector 40 are used, for example, by fixing the first connector 10 to an inner panel (not shown) that constitutes the interior ceiling of a vehicle, and fixing the second connector 40 to a body roof (not shown) of the vehicle. In the process of attaching the inner panel by bringing it close to the body roof from below, the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 are brought close to each other in the front-rear direction and are electrically connected.

[0018] The first connector 10 includes a first support member 11, a first housing 30, and a first gear 37. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first support member 11 is a single component made of synthetic resin and includes a bottom wall portion 12, a right side wall portion 13R, a left side wall portion 13L, and a connecting portion 14. The bottom wall portion 12 is fixed to the upper surface of the inner panel. The right side wall portion 13R is a portion that rises upward from the right edge of the bottom wall portion 12. The left side wall portion 13L is a portion that rises upward from the left edge of the bottom wall portion 12. The connecting portion 14 is a portion that connects the rear ends of the right side wall portion 13R and the left side wall portion 13L.

[0019] The first support member 11 is formed with three first guide grooves 15 extending in the vertical direction. The first guide grooves 15 guide the first housing 30 so that it can move up and down relative to the first support member 11. The guiding direction of the first guide grooves 15 is the direction in which the first support member 11 and the second support member 41 approach and move away from each other. Two of the three first guide grooves 15 are located at the center and rear end in the front-to-rear direction on the inner wall surface of the right side wall portion 13R (the surface facing the left side wall portion 13L). The remaining first guide groove 15 is located at the rear end on the inner wall surface of the left side wall portion 13L (the surface facing the right side wall portion 13R).

[0020] Two second guide grooves 16 extending in the vertical direction are formed in the first support member 11. The second guide grooves 16 are portions that guide the second support member 41 so that it can move in the vertical direction relative to the first support member 11. The guiding direction of the second guide grooves 16 is the direction in which the first support member 11 and the second support member 41 move toward and away from each other, similar to the first guide groove 15. The two second guide grooves 16 are disposed at the front end of the inner wall surface of the right side wall portion 13R and the front end of the inner wall surface of the left side wall portion 13L.

[0021] The first support member 11 is formed with a first cam surface 17 for rotating the first gear 37 and a second cam surface 18 for rotating a second gear 57 (described later). The first cam surface 17 is a flat, upward-facing surface that constitutes a first cam groove formed in the right side wall 13R and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The second cam surface 18 is a flat, upward-facing surface that constitutes a second cam groove formed in the left side wall 13L and extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0022] The first support member 11 is formed with a first positional deviation absorbing groove 19 and a second positional deviation absorbing groove 20. The first positional deviation absorbing groove 19 is located on the inner surface of the right side wall portion 13R and extends linearly downward from the rear end of the first cam groove. The second positional deviation absorbing groove 20 is located on the inner surface of the left side wall portion 13L and extends linearly downward from the rear end of the second cam groove.

[0023] The first housing 30 is a single component made of synthetic resin and includes a plate-shaped base 31 and a terminal accommodating portion 32. As shown in FIG. 5, a right guide pin 33R is formed at the rear end of the right side surface of the plate-shaped base 31. As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of left guide pins 33L are formed on the left side surface of the plate-shaped base 31, spaced apart in the front-rear direction. A first rack 34 is formed on the left edge of the top surface of the plate-shaped base 31. The first rack 34 has a shape in which multiple upwardly protruding teeth are arranged at a constant pitch in the front-rear direction. The terminal accommodating portion 32 is a portion that protrudes upward from the top surface of the plate-shaped base 31. Multiple female terminal fittings 36 (see FIG. 6) are accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 32. A first rotation center shaft 35, whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction, is formed on the right outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion 32.

[0024] The first gear 37 is a spur gear having a plurality of teeth on its outer circumferential surface. The first gear 37 is rotatably attached to the first rotation center shaft 35 with its axis oriented in the left-right direction. The first gear 37 is disposed adjacent to the right side surface of the first housing 30 in the left-right direction. A cylindrical first cam protrusion 38 with its axis oriented parallel to the first rotation center shaft 35 is formed on the right side surface of the first gear 37. The first cam protrusion 38 is disposed at a position radially eccentric from the first rotation center shaft 35.

[0025] The first housing 30 is attached to the first support member 11 while being housed between the left and right side wall portions 13L, 13R. A pair of front and rear left guide pins 33L are individually fitted into the first guide grooves 15 of the left side wall portion 13L, and the right guide pin 33R is fitted into the first guide groove 15 of the right side wall portion 13R. The guide function of the three first guide grooves 15 allows the first housing 30 to move vertically relative to the first support member 11. When the first housing 30 is attached to the first support member 11, the first cam protrusion 38 of the first gear 37 enters the first cam groove and abuts against the first cam surface 17 from above.

[0026] The second connector 40 includes a second support member 41, a second housing 50, and a second gear 57. The second support member 41 is a single component made of synthetic resin and includes a cylindrical guide portion 42 and an attachment portion 43. The cylindrical guide portion 42 is shaped like a square tube with openings on both the front and rear sides. A pair of guide ribs 44 extending in the vertical direction is formed on both the left and right outer surfaces of the cylindrical guide portion 42. The attachment portion 43 is a portion that protrudes rearward from the upper surface of the cylindrical guide portion 42. The upper surface of the attachment portion 43 is fixed to the underside of the body roof (not shown).

[0027] The second housing 50 is a single component made of synthetic resin and includes a terminal holding portion 51, a plate-shaped extending portion 52, and a plate-shaped supporting portion 53. Male terminal fittings 54 (see FIG. 8) are attached to the terminal body. The plate-shaped extending portion 52 extends rearward in a cantilevered manner from the upper surface of the terminal holding portion 51, with its thickness oriented in the vertical direction. A second rack 55 is formed on the right edge of the plate-shaped extending portion 52. The second rack 55 has a shape in which multiple teeth protruding downward are arranged at a constant pitch in the front-to-rear direction. The plate-shaped supporting portion 53 extends downward from the left edge of the plate-shaped extending portion 52. A second rotation center shaft 56 is formed on the left outer surface of the plate-shaped supporting portion 53, with its axis oriented in the left-to-right direction, the same as the first rotation center shaft 35.

[0028] The second gear 57 is a spur gear having a plurality of teeth on its outer circumferential surface. The second gear 57 is rotatably attached to the second rotation center shaft 56 with its axis oriented in the left-right direction. The second gear 57 is disposed adjacent to the left side surface of the second housing 50 in the left-right direction. A cylindrical second cam protrusion 58 with its axis oriented parallel to the second rotation center shaft 56 is formed on the left side surface of the second gear 57. The second cam protrusion 58 is disposed at a position radially eccentric from the second rotation center shaft 56.

[0029] The second housing 50 is attached to the second support member 41 with the terminal holding portion 51 fitted into the cylindrical guide portion 42 and the plate-like extending portion 52 aligned along the underside of the mounting portion 43. The guide function of the cylindrical guide portion 42 allows the second housing 50 to move in the front-to-rear direction relative to the second support member 41. The second gear 57 is located rearward of the cylindrical guide portion 42 and is disposed on the left outer surface of the second connector 40. The second rack 55 is located rearward of the cylindrical guide portion 42 and is disposed on the left outer surface of the second connector 40.

[0030] The second connector 40 is attached to the first support member 11 while being accommodated between the left and right side wall portions. When the second housing 50 is attached to the first support member 11, the pair of left and right guide ribs 44 are individually fitted into the pair of left and right second guide grooves 16. The second cam protrusions 58 are accommodated in the second cam grooves and abut against the second cam surfaces 18 from above. The second gear 57 meshes with the first rack 34 from above, and the second rack 55 meshes with the first gear 37 from above. The first housing 30 and the second housing 50 face each other in the front-rear and left-right directions in a positional relationship that allows them to be fitted together.

[0031] When fitting the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 together, the first support member 11 is moved upward to approach the second support member 41, so that the guide rib 44 fits into the second guide groove 16 and the second cam protrusion 58 abuts against the second cam surface 18.

[0032] From this state, when first support member 11 is further moved upward relative to second support member 41, first cam surface 17 presses first cam protrusion 38 from below, and second cam surface 18 presses second cam protrusion 58 from below. When both housings 30, 50 start to be fitted together, as shown in FIG. 9, first cam protrusion 38 is located forward of first rotation central axis 35, and second cam protrusion 58 is located forward of second rotation central axis 56 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0033] As the first support member 11 rises, the first gear 37 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in Figures 9 and 10 by the pressing force of the first cam surface 17 against the first cam protrusion 38. The second gear 57 is driven to rotate clockwise in Figures 11 and 12 (counterclockwise in Figures 9 and 10) by the pressing force of the first cam surface 17 against the first cam protrusion 38. During this time, the first housing 30 and the second connector 40 do not move relative to the first support member 11 in the front-to-rear direction, so the first cam protrusion 38 slides forward on the first cam surface 17, and the second cam protrusion 58 slides forward on the second cam surface 18.

[0034] As the first gear 37 and the second gear 57 rotate, the first support member 11 moves upward relative to the first housing 30 and the second connector 40. The first housing 30 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction relative to the first support member 11 by the engagement of the left and right guide pins 33L, 33R with the three first guide grooves 15. The second support member 41 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction relative to the first support member 11 by the engagement of the guide rib 44 with the second guide groove 16. The second housing 50 can move in the front-rear direction relative to the first support member 11, the first housing 30, and the second support member 41. Therefore, the second housing 50 moves rearward relative to the first support member 11, the first housing 30, and the second support member 41 by the engagement of the first gear 37 with the second rack 55 and the engagement of the second gear 57 with the first rack 34. This relative movement of the second housing 50 advances the mating of the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 .

[0035] 9, when the mating of the two housings 30, 50 begins, the first cam protrusion 38 is located in the vicinity of directly below the first rotation central axis 35 in a side view of the first connector 10 and the second connector 40. Therefore, when the upward pressing force acting on the first cam protrusion 38 from the first cam surface 17 is resolved into a circumferential component about the first rotation central axis 35 and a radial component about the first rotation central axis 35, the circumferential component acting as a rotational driving force on the first gear 37 is smaller than the radial component. As shown in FIG. 11, the second cam protrusion 58, like the first cam protrusion 38, is located in the vicinity of directly below the second rotation central axis 56. Therefore, with regard to the upward pressing force acting on the second cam protrusion 58 from the second cam surface 17, the circumferential component is also smaller than the radial component. Therefore, the circumferential component of force acting as a rotational driving force on the second gear 57 is smaller than the radial component of force. However, at the start of mating, the female terminal fittings 36 and the male terminal fittings 54 are not in contact with each other, and no connection resistance occurs between the female terminal fittings 36 and the male terminal fittings 54. Therefore, even if the rotational driving force acting on the first gear 37 and the second gear 57 is small, the rotational movement of the first gear 37 and the second gear 57 is not hindered.

[0036] As the mating of the housings 30, 50 progresses, the female terminal fittings 36 and the male terminal fittings 54 come into contact, increasing mating resistance. However, as the rotation of the first gear 37 progresses, the first cam protrusion 38 moves away from the first rotation center axis 35 in the front-to-rear direction, so the circumferential component of the upward pressing force acting from the first cam surface 17 on the first cam protrusion 38 becomes larger than the radial component. As the rotation of the second gear 57 progresses, the second cam protrusion 58 moves away from the second rotation center axis 56 in the front-to-rear direction, so the circumferential component of the upward pressing force acting from the second cam surface 18 on the second cam protrusion 58 becomes larger than the radial component. Therefore, even if the mating resistance increases, the rotation of the first gear 37 and the second gear 57, i.e., the mating operation of the housings 30, 50, is not hindered.

[0037] When the first cam protrusion 38 reaches its farthest position from the first rotational axis 35 and the second cam protrusion 58 reaches its farthest position from the second rotational axis 56, the fitting of the two housings 30, 50 is complete. Once the fitting of the two housings 30, 50 is complete, the first cam protrusion 38 reaches the upper end of the first positional deviation absorbing groove 19, and the second cam protrusion 58 reaches the upper end of the second positional deviation absorbing groove 20. When the fitting of the two housings 30, 50 is complete, the position of the first support member 11 relative to the second support member 41 has not yet reached the intended assembly position. After the fitting of the two housings 30, 50 is complete, the first support member 11 is further raised toward the intended assembly position. During this movement, the first cam protrusion 38 moves downward relative to the first positional deviation absorbing groove 19, and the second cam protrusion 58 moves downward relative to the second positional deviation absorbing groove 20. When the first support member 11 reaches the desired assembly position, the assembly of the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 and the fitting of the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are completed.

[0038] The connector device of the first embodiment includes a pair of housings 30, 50 that can be mated with each other, a pair of gears 37, 57 rotatably attached to the housings 30, 50 at a distance in a first intersecting direction (left-right direction) that intersects the mating direction (front-rear direction) of the pair of housings 30, 50, and a pair of racks 34, 55 formed on the housings 30, 50. The pair of gears 37, 57 rotate while meshed with the pair of racks 34, 55, thereby mating the pair of housings 30, 50. With this configuration, a mating force due to the meshing of the gears 37, 57 with the racks 34, 55 is generated at two locations spaced apart in the first intersecting direction that intersects the mating direction of the pair of housings 30, 50. Therefore, during the mating process, the pair of housings 30, 50 are less likely to be twisted in a manner that causes the pair of housings 30, 50 to become oblique when viewed in a second intersecting direction (up-down direction) that intersects both the mating direction and the first intersecting direction.

[0039] The pair of housings 30, 50 includes a first housing 30 and a second housing 50. The pair of gears 37, 57 includes a first gear 37 attached to the first housing 30 and a second gear 57 attached to the second housing 50. The pair of racks 34, 55 includes a first rack 34 formed on the first housing 30 and a second rack 55 formed on the second housing 50. The first gear 37 meshes with the second rack 55, and the second gear 57 meshes with the first rack 34. With this configuration, compared to a configuration in which the pair of gears 37, 57 are provided on one housing 30, 50 and the pair of racks 34, 55 are provided on the other housing 30, 50, a large amount of movement of the pair of housings 30, 50 can be ensured even with a lower rotation speed of the gears 37, 57. In other words, the number of rotations of the gears 37, 57 required to engage the pair of housings 30, 50 can be reduced.

[0040] The pair of gears 37, 57 are arranged with their rotational axes 35, 56 facing the first intersecting direction (left-right direction). When viewed in the first intersecting direction, the first rack 34 and the second rack 55 are arranged to mesh with the pair of gears 37, 57 from opposite sides. With this configuration, during the fitting process, the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are less likely to be twisted in a way that causes them to become oblique when viewed in the first intersecting direction.

[0041] The pair of housings 30, 50 are capable of relative movement with respect to the first support member 11 in a second intersecting direction (up and down direction) that intersects both the mating direction and the first intersecting direction. The pair of gears 37, 57 have cam protrusions 38, 58 at positions eccentric to the rotation central axes 35, 56. The first support member 11 has cam surfaces 17, 18 that are oriented intersecting the second intersecting direction. During the process in which the pair of housings 30, 50 move relative to the first support member 11 in the second intersecting direction, the cam protrusions 38, 58 come into contact with the cam surfaces 17, 18, causing the pair of gears 37, 57 to rotate. With this configuration, the pair of housings 30, 50 can be mated while being moved in the second intersecting direction that intersects the mating direction.

[0042] The first housing 30 is guided to be movable relative to the first support member 11 in a second intersecting direction (up-down direction). The second housing 50 is supported to be movable relative to the second support member 41 in a fitting direction (front-rear direction). The second support member 41 is guided to be movable relative to the first support member 11 in the second intersecting direction. With this configuration, the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 can be fitted together by moving the first support member 11 and the second support member 41 relative to each other in the second intersecting direction.

[0043] The first support member 11 is formed with positional deviation absorbing grooves 19, 20 that enable the cam protrusions 38, 58 to move in the second intersecting direction relative to the first support member 11 when the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are completely fitted together. According to this configuration, if the relative positional relationship between the first support member 11 and the second support member 41 in the second intersecting direction exceeds the tolerance range when the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are completely fitted together, the cam protrusions 38, 58 can be moved within the positional deviation absorbing grooves 19, 20 while the first support member 11 and the second support member 41 are relatively moved so that their positional relationship falls within the tolerance range.

[0044] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the examples described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, including the following embodiments. A pair of gears may be attached to the first housing and a pair of racks may be formed on the second housing, or a pair of gears may be attached to the second housing and a pair of racks may be formed on the first housing. The first rack and the second rack may be arranged to mesh with each other from the same side in the second intersecting direction (vertical direction) when viewed in the first intersecting direction (horizontal direction). In this case, the first gear and the second gear may be rotated in opposite directions when viewed in the first intersecting direction during the mating process of the first housing and the second housing. The gear may be rotated by meshing with a rack formed on the first support member, by meshing with a rack formed on a member other than the first support member, or by operating a lever extending radially from the gear's central rotation axis. The first support member may not have the positional deviation absorbing groove. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10...First connector 11...First support member 12...Bottom wall 13L…Left side wall 13R…Right side wall part 14...Connection part 15...First guide groove 16...Second guide groove 17...First cam surface (cam surface) 18...Second cam surface (cam surface) 19...First positional deviation absorbing groove (positional deviation absorbing groove) 20...Second positional deviation absorbing groove (positional deviation absorbing groove) 30...First housing (housing) 31...Plate-shaped base 32...Terminal housing 33L...Left guide pin 33R...Right guide pin 34...1st rack (rack) 35...First rotation axis (rotation axis) 36...Female terminal fitting 37...1st gear (gear) 38...First cam protrusion (cam protrusion) 40...Second connector 41...Second support member 42...Cylindrical guide part 43...Mounting part 44...Guide rib 50...Second housing (housing) 51...Terminal holding part 52...Plate-shaped extension 53...Plate-shaped support part 54...Male terminal fitting 55...Second rack (rack) 56...Second rotation axis (rotation axis) 57...2nd gear (gear) 58...Second cam protrusion (cam protrusion)

Claims

1. a pair of housings that can be fitted together; a pair of gears rotatably attached to the housings and spaced apart in a first intersecting direction intersecting a fitting direction of the pair of housings; a pair of racks formed on the housing; The pair of gears rotate in mesh with the pair of racks, thereby fitting the pair of housings together.

2. The pair of housings includes a first housing and a second housing, the pair of gears includes a first gear attached to the first housing and a second gear attached to the second housing, the pair of racks includes a first rack formed in the first housing and a second rack formed in the second housing, the first gear and the second rack mesh with each other, 2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second gear and the first rack mesh with each other.

3. The pair of gears are arranged with their rotational central axes directed in the first intersecting direction, 3. The connector device according to claim 2, wherein the first rack and the second rack are arranged to mesh with the pair of gears from opposite sides when viewed in the first intersecting direction.

4. The pair of gears are arranged such that the rotational axes of the gears are oriented in the first intersecting direction, the pair of housings are capable of relative movement with respect to the first support member in a second intersecting direction intersecting both the fitting direction and the first intersecting direction, the pair of gears each have a cam protrusion at a position eccentric to the rotation central axis, the first support member has a cam surface oriented in a direction intersecting with the second intersecting direction, A connector device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein during the process of the pair of housings moving relative to the first support member in the second intersecting direction, the cam protrusions abut against the cam surfaces, causing the pair of gears to rotate.

5. The pair of housings includes a first housing and a second housing, the first housing is guided to be movable relative to the first support member in the second intersecting direction, the second housing is supported by the second support member so as to be movable relative to the second support member in the fitting direction; 5. The connector device according to claim 4, wherein the second support member is guided to be movable relative to the first support member in the second intersecting direction.

6. A connector device as described in claim 5, wherein the first support member has a positional deviation absorption groove that enables the cam protrusion to move relative to the first support member in the second intersecting direction when the first housing and the second housing are fully engaged.

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