Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of preventing a fitting detection member from coming off from a housing when the fitting detection member moves backward during fitting between the housing and a mating housing.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes a housing 2 which can be fitted to a mating housing 111, and a fitting detection member 4 which is slidably attached to the housing 2 and detects fitting between the housing 2 and the mating housing 111. The housing (2) includes a housing lock mechanism (20) for holding connection to a mating housing (111) and two protection walls (16) arranged to sandwich the housing lock mechanism (20). Coming-off preventing projections 30 are formed on 16a parts of left and right inner side surfaces of the protection walls 16. The fitting detection member 4 is formed with a coming-off prevention projection 51 capable of abutting on the coming-off prevention projection part 30 when the fitting detection member 4 moves backward in the middle of fitting of the housing 2 and the mating housing 111.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a known connector includes a housing that can be mated with a mating housing, and a mating detection member that is slidably attached to the housing and detects mating with the mating housing, the housing having a housing lock mechanism (see Patent Document 1). The mating detection member is inserted from the rear of the connector's housing lock mechanism, and the locking protrusion on the mating detection member lifts the locked protrusion on the housing lock mechanism, and after the mating detection member passes, the locked protrusion on the housing lock mechanism returns to its original position. This causes the locked protrusion on the housing lock mechanism to lock with the locking protrusion on the mating detection member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-21644 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned connector, the locking protrusion on the mating locking member is locked before mating with the mating connector, but during mating with the mating connector, the locked protrusion on the housing lock mechanism is lifted, allowing the locking protrusion on the mating detection member to pass under the locked protrusion. Therefore, if the mating detection member moves to the rear of the connector during mating with the mating connector, there is a possibility that the mating detection member will come off and become detached from the housing.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can prevent the mating detection member from coming off the housing when the mating detection member moves rearward during mating between the housing and the mating housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a housing that can be mated with a mating housing, and a mating detection member that is slidably attached to the housing and detects the mating of the housing with the mating housing. The housing has a housing locking mechanism that maintains the mating with the mating housing, and a pair of protective wall portions that are arranged at a distance in the left-right direction to sandwich the housing locking mechanism. Anti-slip protrusions are formed on the left and right inner surfaces of the protective wall portions of the housing, and the mating detection member has an anti-slip protrusion that can abut against the anti-slip protrusions when the mating detection member moves rearward during mating of the housing with the mating housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a connector can be provided that can prevent the mating detection member from slipping off and becoming detached from the housing when the mating detection member moves rearward during mating between the housing and the mating housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the housing. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of a front holder that constitutes the connector. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front holder shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the fitting detection member is placed on the housing lock mechanism. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 7, showing a state in which the fitting detection member is placed on the housing lock mechanism. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. 8. [Figure 11] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where insertion of the fitting members corresponding to the cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 7 has begun. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Figure 13] 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 7, showing a state in which a fitting member is being inserted. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. [Figure 15] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the fitting detection member has been assembled, corresponding to the cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 7. [Figure 16] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the fitting detection member has been assembled, corresponding to the cross section taken along the line FF in FIG. 7. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the connector and the mating connector before they are mated. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line HH in FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 18. [Figure 21] 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector are in the middle of being fitted together, corresponding to the cross section along the line GG in FIG. 17. [Figure 22] 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector are in the middle of being fitted together, corresponding to the cross section taken along the line HH in FIG. 17. [Figure 23] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 21. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] [Outline of Connector 1] 1 to 4, connector 1 includes a housing 2, a front holder 3, a mating detection member 4, and a sealing member 6. In this embodiment, connector 1 is a female connector configured to be matable with a mating connector 101 (see FIGS. 17 to 23, a male connector) along the front-rear direction.

[0011] The X direction shown in Figures 1 to 4 is the direction along the operation direction (slide direction) of the mating detection member 4, also referred to as "CPA," and corresponds to the mating direction (front-rear direction) of the connector 1 and the mating connector 101. The Y direction shown in Figures 1 to 4 corresponds to the left-right direction (width direction) of the connector 1 and is perpendicular to the X direction. The Z direction shown in Figures 1 to 4 corresponds to the height direction (up-down direction) of the connector 1 and is perpendicular to the X and Y directions.

[0012] [Housing 2] As shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 8, the housing 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The housing 2 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin material. The housing 2 integrally comprises a cylindrical inner housing 11 and a cylindrical outer housing 12 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 11 with a gap therebetween. A mating housing 111 (see Figures 17 to 23) of a mating connector 101 is inserted into the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 12.

[0013] The inner housing 11 is formed with a plurality of (three in this embodiment) terminal accommodating chambers 13 into which a plurality of terminals (female terminals in this embodiment) are inserted from the rear. The terminal accommodating chambers 13 are also called "cavities." Each terminal accommodating chamber 13 is open to the outside through an opening at the front end 14 of the inner housing 11, and a mating terminal (not shown, male terminal in this embodiment) of the mating connector 101 is inserted through this opening.

[0014] The inner housing 11 is also referred to as the "housing body," and the outer housing 12 is also referred to as the "hood." The inner housing 11 is formed so as to protrude slightly forward from the front end face of the outer housing 12, and an annular seal member 6, also referred to as a "packing," is attached to the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 11 covered by the outer housing 12. A front holder 3 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a front end 14 of the inner housing 11, which protrudes slightly forward from the outer housing 12.

[0015] A housing lock mechanism 20 is provided on the upper outer peripheral surface 12a (see FIGS. 1 to 3 and 16) of the housing 2. The housing lock mechanism 20 is a mechanism for maintaining the fit between the housing 2 and the mating housing 111. The housing lock mechanism 20 has an elastically deformable lock arm 21 and an elastically deformable release arm 24.

[0016] The lock arm 21 is formed in a U-shape in a plan view. The lock arm 21 is formed in a cantilever shape on the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 11 and integrally includes a pair of left and right elastic arm pieces 22 extending forward parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 11, and a locking piece 23 connecting the front ends of the elastic arm pieces 22 in the left-right direction. When the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are fully mated, the locking piece 23 locks with a locking portion 112 (see FIGS. 18 and 21) of the mating housing 111.

[0017] The lock arm 21 is formed in a cantilever shape at the front end of each of a pair of elastic arm pieces 22, and is connected to a release arm 24 that is U-shaped in plan view and extends rearward.

[0018] The release arm 24 has an unlocking operation portion 25 that is pressed down when the locking piece 23 is released from the locking portion 112 of the mating housing 111. The unlocking operation portion 25 is spaced apart from the housing 2 (inner housing 11) in the vertical direction and is positioned above the elastic arm piece 22. When the unlocking operation portion 25 is pressed down and displaced downward, an upward unlocking force is applied to the locking piece 23 via the release arm 24.

[0019] A housing locking portion 29 is provided at the front of the unlocking operation portion 25, and a vertical surface portion 29a is provided at the front end of the housing locking portion 29 so as to be perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface 12a.

[0020] The housing 2 is provided with a pair of protective walls 16 that sandwich the lock arm 21 in the left-right direction. The pair of protective walls 16 are erected on top of the outer housing 12 to protect the housing lock mechanism 20. A beam 17 extending in the left-right direction is provided in front of the protective walls 16. Both left-right ends of the beam 17 are connected to the protective walls 16 and are disposed at a distance from the outer housing 12. The housing 2 is mounted with the fitting detection member 4 disposed in the space defined by the outer housing 12, the pair of protective walls 16, and the beam 17.

[0021] The left and right inner surfaces 16a of the protective wall 16 of the housing 2 are provided with anti-slip projections 30 that can come into contact with anti-slip projections 51 (described later) when the mating detection member 4 moves rearward during mating of the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 (see FIG. 23). The front of the anti-slip projections 30 is provided with front vertical surfaces 30a that are formed to be approximately perpendicular to the left and right inner surfaces 16a of the protective wall 16 (see FIGS. 12 and 14). The rear of the anti-slip projections 30 is provided with rear vertical surfaces 30b that are formed to be perpendicular to the left and right inner surfaces 16a of the protective wall 16 (see FIGS. 12 and 14).

[0022] The retaining projections 30 are formed on the lower portions of the left and right inner surfaces 16a of the protective wall 16. By providing the retaining projections 30 on the lower portion, i.e., the lower portion of the protective wall 16 of the housing 2, it is possible to reduce mold costs and save space for the housing 2. In other words, if the retaining projections 30 were provided on the upper portion of the protective wall 16, one additional mold mating surface (parting line) would be required, which could increase mold costs and the height of the housing 2. In contrast, if the retaining projections 30 are provided on the lower portion of the protective wall 16, the retaining projections 30 are formed so as to connect with the outer shape of the housing 2 (in this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 12a), so the number of mold mating surfaces is not increased. This allows for cost reduction by simplifying the mold and space savings for the connector 1 in the height direction.

[0023] On each of the left and right side surfaces of the release arm 24, there is provided a locking projection 26 that protrudes toward the opposing protective wall portion 16 (see FIGS. 3 and 19). The lower end surface of the locking projection 26 is provided with an inclined surface 26a that slopes upward from the front to the rear, and a flat surface 26b that is located in front of the inclined surface 26a and is formed parallel to the outer circumferential surface 12a (see FIG. 19). A locking projection 43 of the fitting detection member 4, which will be described later, is locked onto the locking projection 26.

[0024] The engaging projection 26 is positioned above the upper outer peripheral surface 12a of the housing 2, thereby forming a gap S between the outer peripheral surface 12a and the engaging projection 26, through which the engaging projection 43 of the fitting detection member 4 can pass in the forward and backward directions (see Figures 19 and 22).

[0025] The housing 2 is provided with a temporary locking portion 27 that, when the front holder 3 is attached (temporarily locked), locks the temporary lock 36 formed on the front holder 3. The temporary locking portion 27 is provided with a vertical surface 27a that is formed to be perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface 12a (see FIG. 16).

[0026] The housing 2 is provided with a main locking portion 28 that, when the front holder 3 is attached (mainly locked), locks a main lock 37 formed on the front holder 3. The main locking portion 28 is provided with a main locking insertion inclined surface portion 28a that is formed in an upward slope from the front to the rear, and a main locking release inclined surface portion 28b that is located behind the main locking insertion inclined surface portion 28a and is formed in a downward slope from the front to the rear (see FIG. 9).

[0027] [Front holder 3] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6, the front holder 3 is attached to the housing 2. The front holder 3 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material. The front holder 3 has a cylindrical holder main body 31. The holder main body 31 is integrally formed with a holder upper wall portion 32 and a holder lower wall portion 33 that face each other and are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and holder side wall portions 34 that connect the left and right end edges of the holder upper wall portion 32 and the left and right end edges of the holder lower wall portion 33.

[0028] A temporary-locking arm 35 extending rearward is formed at the rear of each of the left and right sides of the holder upper wall 32. A pair of left and right temporary-locking slits 35a is provided in the holder upper wall 32 so as to sandwich each temporary-locking arm 35 in the left-right direction. Each temporary-locking slit 35a is open at its rear end. This defines an elastically deformable temporary-locking arm 35 between the pair of left and right temporary-locking slits 35a. In addition, a plurality of (two in this embodiment) temporary-locking locks 36 are provided on the underside of the rear end of each temporary-locking arm 35 so as to protrude downward.

[0029] A main lock 37 protrudes downward from the center in the left-right direction on the underside of the holder upper wall 32. A pair of front and rear main lock slits 37a are provided in the holder upper wall 32 so as to sandwich the main lock 37 in the front-rear direction. Of the pair of main lock slits 37a, the front main lock slit 37a is open at its front end, and the rear main lock slit 37a is open at its rear end. The main lock 37 is also provided with an insertion inclined surface 37b that slopes upward from the front to the rear, and a release inclined surface 37c that is located in front of the insertion inclined surface 37b and slopes downward from the front to the rear (see FIG. 9).

[0030] Furthermore, a flange portion 38 is provided at the rear end of the holder upper wall portion 32, protruding upward. The flange portion 38 extends in the left-right direction, and a flange-side temporary-locking slit 38a that continues to the pair of temporary-locking slits 35a is formed at the base end of the flange portion 38. The flange portion 38 also has a flange-side full-locking slit 38b that continues to the rearmost full-locking slit 37a of the pair of full-locking slits 37a. The flange portion 38 also has a slip-off prevention portion 39 that is located in front of the seal member 6 when the front holder 3 is attached to the front end 14 of the inner housing 11. The slip-off prevention portion 39 has a vertical surface 39a that is located at the rear end of the flange portion 38 and is formed perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface 12a (see FIG. 10).

[0031] [Attaching the front holder 3 to the housing 2 (temporarily locked state)] Although not shown, when attaching the front holder 3 to the front end portion 14 of the inner housing 11, the front end portion 14 is inserted into the inside of the front holder 3 from the rear end opening of the front holder 3 and moved in the front-rear direction. When the front holder 3 is moved in the front-rear direction, the temporary lock 36 of the front holder 3 is engaged (prevented from coming off) with the temporary locking portion 27 provided on the front end portion 14, thereby attaching (temporarily locking) the front holder 3 to the housing 2. In other words, the temporary locking lock 36 of the front holder 3 is engaged with the temporary locking portion 27 of the housing 2, thereby bringing the front holder 3 into a temporary locked state. When the front holder 3 is temporarily locked to the housing 2, unintentional detachment (disengagement) of the front holder 3 from the front end portion 14 of the inner housing 11 is suppressed. When the front holder 3 is attached to the housing 2 (in a provisionally locked state), the insertion inclined surface 37b provided on the full lock lock 37 of the front holder 3 abuts (faces) the full lock insertion inclined surface 28a of the housing 2.

[0032] [Attaching the front holder 3 to the housing 2 (full locking state)] 8 and 9, when the front holder 3 is further pushed toward the front end portion 14, the main lock lock 37 of the front holder 3 moves along the main lock insertion inclined surface portion 28a of the housing 2, the main lock lock 37 is displaced upward, and the holder upper wall portion 32 is bent. As a result, the main lock lock 37 of the front holder 3 is locked (prevented from coming off) by the main lock lock portion 28 provided on the front end portion 14, and the front holder 3 is attached (mainly locked) to the housing 2. In other words, the main lock lock 37 of the front holder 3 is locked by the main lock lock portion 28 of the housing 2, and the front holder 3 is placed in a main locked state. Furthermore, when the front holder 3 is attached to the housing 2 (main locked state), the release inclined surface 37c provided on the main lock lock 37 of the front holder 3 abuts (faces) the main lock release inclined surface portion 28b of the housing 2.

[0033] On the other hand, when the front holder 3 is released from the main lock (when it is removed from the front end portion 14), the main lock lock 37 of the front holder 3 moves along the main lock release inclined surface portion 28b of the housing 2, causing the main lock lock 37 to displace upward and bending the holder upper wall portion 32. In short, because the pair of front and rear main lock slits 37a are provided in the holder upper wall portion 32, the holder upper wall portion 32 of the front holder 3 is more likely to bend with the displacement of the main lock lock 37 when the front holder 3 is inserted and released from the main lock as described above. As a result, it is possible to prevent a strong reaction force from being generated against the front holder 3, and it is also possible to keep the operating forces (insertion force, release force) when the front holder 3 is inserted and released from the main lock low.

[0034] [Mating detection member 4] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the mating detection member 4 is slidably attached to the outer surface of the housing 2 and is a member for detecting the mating of the housing 2 with the mating housing 111. The mating detection member 4 is formed, for example, from a synthetic resin material. The mating detection member 4 is attached to the rear of the housing 2 and is configured to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction. The mating detection member 4 integrally includes a pair of side wall portions 41 facing each other in the left-to-right direction and a support wall portion 42 connecting the rear portions of the upper ends of the side wall portions 41 (see Figures 2 and 4).

[0035] A locking projection 43 is provided on the opposing surface of each side wall 41, projecting toward the opposing side wall 41 to correspond to the locked projection 26 of the housing 2. An inclined surface 43a, which slopes upward from the front to the rear, and a flat surface 43b, which is positioned behind the inclined surface 43a and extends in the front-to-rear direction, are provided on the upper end surface of the locking projection 43 so as to be continuous with each other (see FIGS. 4 and 22). When the fitting detection member 4 passes through the gap S of the housing 2 and reaches the provisionally locked position, the locking projection 43 is locked by the locked projection 26 of the housing 2 (see FIG. 16).

[0036] A fall-off prevention protrusion 51 is formed on the rear of each side wall 41. This protrusion 51 can come into contact with the fall-off prevention protrusion 30 provided on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2 when the mating detection member 4 moves rearward during mating between the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 (see FIGS. 4 and 23). The fall-off prevention protrusion 51 is configured to pass inside the fall-off prevention protrusion 30 in the left-right direction when the mating detection member 4 is attached to the housing 2. The front of the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 is provided with an inclined surface 51a that slopes outward in the left-right direction as it extends from the front to the rear (see FIGS. 4 and 12). The rear of the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 is provided with a vertical surface 51b that is formed perpendicular to the left-right inner surface 16a of the protective wall 16 (see FIGS. 4 and 23).

[0037] Each side wall 41 is formed with an assembly guide 52 that guides the assembly of the fitting detection member 4 to the housing 2 (see FIGS. 4 and 12). The assembly guide 52 is disposed at a distance from the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 in the front-to-rear direction, and a notch 53 is provided between the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 and the assembly guide 52. The rear end of the assembly guide 52 is provided with a guide surface 52a that is formed perpendicular to the left and right inner surfaces 16a of the protective wall 16 (see FIGS. 4 and 12).

[0038] A slide operation part 44 that is operated when sliding the fitting detection member 4 is provided on the upper surface of the support wall part 42 (see FIGS. 2 and 11) to protrude therefrom.

[0039] An arm piece 45 extending forward is provided at the center of the support wall portion 42 in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The arm piece 45 is supported by the support wall portion 42 in a cantilevered manner and is formed so as to tilt downward. A locking claw 46 extending downward is formed at the front end of the arm piece 45 (see FIGS. 4 and 8). The arm piece 45 is configured so that the locking claw 46 can swing upward with the rear end as a fulcrum and be elastically deformable. When the fitting detection member 4 is in the temporary locking position, the locking claw 46 is located behind the locking piece 23 of the housing 2 (see FIG. 18), and when the fitting detection member 4 is in the full locking position, the locking claw 46 is locked to the locking piece 23 (not shown).

[0040] [Assembly procedure for each component that makes up connector 1] The following describes the procedure for assembling the components that make up the connector 1. First, the seal member 6 is attached to the housing 2, and then the terminals to which electric wires (not shown) are connected are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 13 of the housing 2.

[0041] Next, the front holder 3 is attached to the front end portion 14 of the inner housing 11. This prevents the terminals from coming off the front holder 3. The front holder 3 may be configured to be able to be provisionally and fully locked to the front end portion 14 of the inner housing 11. In this case, for example, with the front holder 3 provisionally locked to the front end portion 14, the terminals may be inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 13, and then the front holder 3 may be slid relative to the front end portion 14 to be fully locked.

[0042] Next, the fitting detection member 4 is attached to the housing 2 from the rear to the provisionally locked position. Specifically, the assembly guide 52 on the fitting detection member 4 is brought into contact with the anti-detachment protrusion 30 on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2, and the fitting detection member 4 is placed from above close to the outer peripheral surface 12a of the housing 2 (see FIG. 8). Once the fitting detection member 4 is placed on the outer peripheral surface 12a of the housing 2, for example, the sliding operation portion 44 is placed with a finger, and the fitting detection member 4 is slid forward.

[0043] During the sliding of the fitting detection member 4, the locking protrusion 43 of the fitting detection member 4 comes into contact with the locked protrusion 26 of the housing 2. Specifically, the inclined surface 43a of the locking protrusion 43 comes into contact with the inclined surface 26a of the locked protrusion 26. If the fitting detection member 4 continues to slide in this state, the inclined surfaces 43a, 26a come into contact with each other, guiding the locking protrusion 43 to slip under the locked protrusion 26. As a result, the release arm 24 on which the locked protrusion 26 is provided is swung, and the locking piece 23 is lifted upward, the gap S widens, and the locking protrusion 43 enters the gap S.

[0044] During the middle stage of sliding of the fitting detection member 4, the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 provided on the fitting detection member 4 bends inward in the left-right direction due to contact with the fall-off prevention protrusion 30 provided on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2, and the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 passes inside the left-right direction of the fall-off prevention protrusion 30. During this middle stage of sliding of the fitting detection member 4, the inclined surface 51a of the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 comes into contact with the rear end of the fall-off prevention protrusion 30, and the fall-off prevention protrusion 51 of the fitting detection member 4 moves along the fall-off prevention protrusion 30 of the housing 2.

[0045] As the fitting detection member 4 continues to slide, the flat surface 43b of the locking projection 43 comes into contact with the inclined surface 26a and then the flat surface 26b of the locked projection 26, passing through the gap S. When the locking projection 43 has completely passed through the gap S, the locking piece 23 that had been raised upward returns to its original position, and the locking projection 43 is locked by the locked projection 26 (see Figures 15 and 16), and the fitting detection member 4 is attached to the housing 2 in the provisionally locked position. This completes the assembly of the components that make up the connector 1, and the connector 1 is completed. When the fitting detection member 4 has been attached to the housing 2, the rear end surface of the fitting detection member 4 comes into contact with the vertical surface 29a of the housing lock portion 29 (see Figure 15).

[0046] [Mating procedure between connector 1 and mating connector 101] The following describes the procedure for fitting the connector 1 to the mating connector 101. As shown in Figures 17 to 20, the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are fitted together with the fitting detection member 4 temporarily locked to the housing 2. First, the mating housing 111 is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 12.

[0047] At this time, the locking portion 112 of the mating housing 111 moves rearward from below while elastically deforming the locking piece 23 of the housing 2, and the locking portion 112 of the mating housing 111 and the locking piece 23 are locked together. As a result, the locking claw 46 of the arm piece 45 of the fitting detection member 4 is lifted upward by the locking portion 112 of the mating housing 111 (i.e., the arm piece 45 is elastically deformed), and the abutment state of the locking claw 46 with the rear end of the locking piece 23 is released.

[0048] In this state, when the mating detection member 4 is pushed forward to displace it to the full locking position, the locking claw 46 moves forward over the locking piece 23 from above, causing the arm piece 45 to recover from its elastic deformation and locking the locking claw 46 and the locking piece 23 (not shown). This completes the mating of the connector 1 and the mating connector 101. When the mating of the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 is complete, the mating terminal is inserted into the terminal and electrically connected to the terminal.

[0049] [During mating of connector 1 and mating connector 101 (preventing disconnection of mating detection member 4)] 21 and 22, when the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are in the middle of mating, if the front end of the housing locking mechanism 20 is lifted, the rear end of the housing locking mechanism 20 will be lowered. If the mating detection member 4 unintentionally moves rearward, the vertical surface 51b of the anti-slip projection 51 provided on the mating detection member 4 will come into contact with the front vertical surface 30a of the anti-slip projection 30 provided on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2, stopping the rearward movement of the mating detection member 4 (see FIG. 23). On the other hand, if the anti-slip projection 30 is not provided on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2, it will not come into contact with the anti-slip projection 51 of the mating detection member 4, and the rearward movement of the mating detection member 4 cannot be stopped.

[0050] [Procedure for disengaging connector 1 from mating connector 101] The following describes the procedure for disengaging the connector 1 from the mating connector 101. To disengage the connector 1 from the mating connector 101, first, the mating detection member 4 is pulled backward and returned from the full locking position to the partial locking position.

[0051] Next, the unlocking operation portion 25 of the housing locking mechanism 20 in the housing 2 is pressed downward. This causes the unlocking arm 24 to swing, displacing the locking piece 23 of the locking arm 21 upward, and releasing the lock between the locking piece 23 and the locking portion 112 of the mating housing 111. In this state, the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are moved apart, thereby disengaging the mating between the connector 1 and the mating connector 101.

[0052] [Actions and Effects] As described above, the connector 1 according to this embodiment includes the housing 2 that can be mated with the mating housing 111, and the mating detection member 4 that is slidably attached to the housing 2 and detects the mating of the housing 2 with the mating housing 111. The housing 2 has a housing lock mechanism 20 that maintains the mating with the mating housing 111, and a pair of protective walls 16 that are arranged at a distance in the left-right direction to sandwich the housing lock mechanism 20. The protective walls 16 of the housing 2 have left and right inner surfaces 16a formed with slip-out prevention protrusions 30. The mating detection member 4 has a slip-out prevention protrusion 51 that can come into contact with the slip-out prevention protrusions 30 when the mating detection member 4 moves rearward during mating of the housing 2 with the mating housing 111.

[0053] If the mating detection member 4 unintentionally moves backward while the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are in the middle of mating, the anti-detachment protrusion 51 provided on the mating detection member 4 will come into contact with the anti-detachment protrusion 30 provided on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2. This stops the mating detection member 4 from moving backward, preventing the mating detection member 4 from coming off and becoming detached from the housing 2.

[0054] According to the above-described embodiment, a connector 1 can be provided that can prevent the mating detection member 4 from slipping out and becoming detached from the housing 2 when the mating detection member 4 moves backward during mating between the housing 2 and the mating housing 111.

[0055] In the connector 1, the fall-out prevention protrusion 51 may be configured to pass inside the fall-out prevention protrusion 30 in the left-right direction when the fitting detection member 4 is assembled to the housing 2. The front part of the fall-out prevention protrusion 51 may be provided with an inclined surface 51a that is inclined outward in the left-right direction from the front to the rear.

[0056] During the middle stage of sliding of the fitting detection member 4, the non-slip projections 30 provided on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2 bend inward in the left-right direction due to contact with the non-slip projections 51 provided on the fitting detection member 4, and the non-slip projections 30 pass inside the non-slip projections 51 in the left-right direction. During this middle stage of sliding of the fitting detection member 4, the inclined surface 51a of the non-slip projections 51 contacts the rear end of the non-slip projections 30, and the fitting detection member 4 moves along the non-slip projections 30 of the housing 2. This allows the fitting detection member 4 to be attached to the housing 2. On the other hand, if the fitting detection member 4 unintentionally moves rearward while the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are being mated, the rear end surface of the non-slip projections 51 provided on the fitting detection member 4 will come into contact with the front end surface of the non-slip projections 30 provided on the protective wall 16 of the housing 2. This prevents the fitting detection member 4 from slipping off and becoming detached from the housing 2 when the fitting detection member 4 moves rearward during the fitting of the housing 2 and the mating housing 111.

[0057] In the connector 1, the fitting detection member 4 may be formed with an assembly guide portion 52 that guides the fitting detection member 4 when it is assembled to the housing 2.

[0058] By forming the assembly guide portion 52 on the fitting detection member 4, when assembling the fitting detection member 4 to the housing 2, the assembly guide portion 52 is first brought into contact with, for example, the slip-out prevention protrusion 30 provided on the protective wall portion 16 of the housing 2. By using the assembly guide portion 52 as a guide when assembling the fitting detection member 4 to the housing 2 in this way, the assembly start position of the fitting detection member 4 can be easily determined.

[0059] In the connector 1, the disconnection prevention protrusions 30 may be formed on the lower portions of the left and right inner surfaces 16a of the protective wall portion 16.

[0060] By providing the retaining projection 30 on the lower portion, which is the lower part of the protective wall 16 of the housing 2, it is possible to reduce mold costs and save space for the housing 2. In other words, if the retaining projection 30 is provided on the upper portion of the protective wall 16, one more mating surface of the mold may be required, which may increase mold costs and the height of the housing 2. In contrast, if the retaining projection 30 is provided on the lower portion of the protective wall 16, the retaining projection 30 is formed so as to connect with the outer shape of the housing 2, so the number of mating surfaces of the mold does not increase. This allows for cost reduction by simplifying the mold and space saving for the connector 1 in the height direction.

[0061] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 connector 2. Housing 4. Fitting detection member 16 Protective wall 20 Housing lock mechanism 30 Anti-slip protrusion 51 Anti-slip protrusion 51a Slope section 52 Assembly guide 111 Opposite Housing

Claims

1. a housing that can be mated with a mating housing; a mating detection member slidably attached to the housing and detecting mating of the housing with the mating housing; The housing includes: a housing lock mechanism for holding the mating housing in place; a pair of protective walls arranged at a distance in the left-right direction so as to sandwich the housing lock mechanism therebetween, The protective wall portion of the housing has left and right inner surfaces formed with projections to prevent the housing from coming off. The fitting detection member is formed with a slip-out prevention protrusion that can come into contact with the slip-out prevention protrusion when the fitting detection member moves rearward during the fitting of the housing and the mating housing. connector.

2. the anti-slip projection is configured to pass through the inside of the anti-slip projection portion in the left-right direction when the fitting detection member is assembled to the housing, The front portion of the slip-out prevention protrusion is provided with an inclined surface portion that is inclined outward in the left-right direction as it goes from the front to the rear. The connector according to claim 1 .

3. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the mating detection member is formed with an assembly guide portion for guiding assembly of the mating detection member to the housing.

4. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the anti-detachment projections are formed on lower portions of left and right inner surfaces of the protective wall portion.

Images