Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of smoothly performing fitting work and properly generating a fitting sound.SOLUTION: The housing 20 includes the lock arm 28 extending from the front end to the rear end in the connecting direction to the mating housing 100, resiliently deformable in the intersecting direction intersecting with the connecting direction and to be locked to the mating housing 100, the end surface 26 arranged to face the rear end part of the lock arm 28 in the intersecting direction, the pair of side portions 39 projecting on the end surface 26 and arranged on both sides across the rear end part of the lock arm 28, and the covering portion 41 bridged between the pair of side portions 39 and configured to cover the rear end part of the lock arm 28 from the side opposite to the end surface 26. A step portion 43,44 is formed to face rearward on a top surface 42 of the covering portion 41 on a side opposite to a surface facing the lock arm 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing, a lock arm formed on the upper wall of the housing, a pair of plate-like support walls arranged with the rear end of the lock arm sandwiched therebetween, and a connecting part installed on each plate-like support wall and covering part of the rear end of the lock arm. A lock operation space is formed by cutting out the rear end of the connecting part.

[0003] The connector described in Patent Document 2 has a housing, a locking arm formed on the top surface of the housing, an upper surface protective portion that covers the rear end of the locking arm from above, and a pair of side surface protective portions that cover the rear end of the locking arm from both the left and right sides.

[0004] In Patent Documents 1 and 2, the rear end of the lock arm is configured as an operating part (referred to as a "lock operating part" in Patent Document 1). An operator can release the engagement between the housing and the mating housing by pressing the upper surface of the operating part with a finger.

[0005] Lock arms having such an operating portion are also disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4. Patent Document 3 discloses a technology that has a second lock protective wall that covers the base end side of the lock arm, thereby improving workability. Patent Document 4 discloses a technology that increases the impact sound (referred to as "mating sound" in Patent Document 4) that occurs as the lock arm elastically returns to its original position. This mating sound is generated when the elastically returning lock arm strikes the wall surface of the mating housing when the housing and the mating housing reach the correct mating position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-190298 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-57578 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-66030 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-158417 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the case of Patent Document 1, when mating a housing with a mating housing, an operator's finger may accidentally come into contact with the top surface of the operating part through the lock operation space, causing the housing to reach the correct mating position while the operating part is pressed down. Even if the operator's finger then releases the operating part after the housing reaches the mating position, the lock arm may not return to its original position with the appropriate elastic reaction force. This creates a concern that the mating sound may become quieter, preventing the auditory detection function, which is used as a guide for mating.

[0008] In contrast, in the case of Patent Document 2, the upper surface protective portion covers the rear end of the locking arm from above, preventing the operator's fingers from coming into contact with the rear end of the locking arm. Therefore, in the case of Patent Document 2, it is possible to generate a mating sound. However, if the operator places their fingers on the upper surface of the upper surface protective portion and attempts to mate the housing with the mating housing, their fingers may slip over the upper surface of the upper surface protective portion, preventing the operation from proceeding smoothly.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can appropriately generate a mating sound and further enable the mating operation to proceed smoothly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing that fits into a mating housing, the housing extending from its front end to its rear end in the mating direction with the mating housing and being elastically deformable in a transverse direction that intersects the mating direction, and having a locking arm that engages with the mating housing, an end face that is arranged opposite to the rear end portion including the rear end of the locking arm in the transverse direction, a pair of side portions that protrude from the end face and are arranged on both sides of the rear end portion of the locking arm, a cover portion that is bridged across the pair of side portions and covers the rear end portion of the locking arm from the opposite side of the end face, and a step portion formed facing rearward on the top surface of the cover portion on the opposite side to the surface facing the locking arm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, a connector is provided that can appropriately generate a mating sound and further enable the mating operation to proceed smoothly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed obliquely from above and from the front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing as seen from diagonally above and behind. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the housing. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the housing having an operating portion and a cover portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A housing is provided that fits into a mating housing, the housing extending from the front end to the rear end in the mating direction with the mating housing and elastically deformable in a transverse direction that intersects the mating direction, and the housing has a lock arm that engages with the mating housing, an end face that is arranged opposite to a rear end portion including the rear end of the lock arm in the transverse direction, a pair of side portions that protrude from the end face and are arranged on both sides of the rear end of the lock arm, a cover portion that spans the pair of side portions and covers the rear end of the lock arm from the opposite side of the end face, and a step portion that is formed facing rearward on a top surface of the cover portion on the opposite side from the surface that faces the lock arm. According to the above configuration, when mating the housing with the mating housing, the operator can place their fingers on the top surface of the cover to prevent their fingers from coming into contact with the rear end of the locking arm. As a result, unintentional elastic deformation of the locking arm can be avoided, and when the housing reaches the correct mating position, the locking arm can properly elastically return to its original position, generating a predetermined mating sound. Moreover, when pushing the housing into the mating housing, the stepped portion acts as a slip prevention mechanism, allowing for a smooth mating operation.

[0014] (2) It is preferable that the rear end portion of the locking arm is positioned farther from the end face than the portion of the locking arm excluding the rear end portion, and that the cover portion is formed to cover the entire rear end portion of the locking arm when viewed from the opposite side of the end face. According to the above configuration, it becomes easier for the operator to place his / her fingers on the top surface of the cover, while more reliably preventing the fingers from coming into contact with the rear end of the lock arm.

[0015] (3) Preferably, a plurality of the step portions are formed on the top surface of the cover portion and arranged side by side in the fitting direction. According to the above configuration, the plurality of step portions can function more effectively as anti-slip devices for fingers.

[0016] (4) The step portion may be formed in a trapezoidal or U-shape when viewed from the opposite side of the end face. According to the above configuration, when an operator places his / her fingers on the top surface of the cover, the fingers can be aligned along the trapezoidal or U-shaped step portion, thereby providing a large grip for the fingers on the step portion, which allows the trapezoidal or U-shaped step portion to function more effectively as a non-slip surface for the fingers.

[0017] (5) The step portions may be arranged in a plurality on the top surface of the cover in the fitting direction, each of which is trapezoidal or U-shaped when viewed from the opposite side of the end surface, and may be formed in a ripple shape overall. With the above configuration, the trapezoidal or U-shaped step portions can function more effectively as anti-slip surfaces for fingers. In addition, each step portion is formed in a ripple shape overall, making it easy to recognize as a part where a finger rests.

[0018] (6) The rear end of the lock arm may have a groove on a surface facing the cover that is inclined in a direction away from the cover toward the rear. With the above configuration, when the housing is in the correct mating position, the lock arm can be elastically deformed in the unlocking direction by placing a jig along the groove at the rear end of the lock arm. Therefore, even if the rear end of the lock arm is covered with the cover, the mating between the housing and the mating housing can be properly released.

[0019] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0020] <Embodiment 1> The connector 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a terminal fitting 80, a housing 20, and a retainer 90. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 20 is matable with a mating housing 100. In the following description, the front side refers to the side of the housing 20 that is mated with the mating housing 100, specifically, the side of the housing 20 that faces the mating housing 100 at the start of mating. The left side of FIG. 2 is the front side. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each drawing. This up-down direction does not necessarily coincide with the direction of gravity when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction in FIG. 4. In FIG. 1, the symbols X, Y, and Z indicate the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction, respectively. In the following description, the front end refers to the front portion including the front end, and the rear end refers to the rear portion including the rear end.

[0021] (Terminal fittings) The terminal fitting 80 is formed as a single unit by bending a conductive metal plate or the like. As shown in Fig. 2, the terminal fitting 80 is elongated in the front-to-rear direction, and has a connecting portion 81 at the front end and a barrel portion 82 at the rear end. The connecting portion 81 is shaped like a rectangular tube and receives a tab 181 of a mating terminal fitting 180 attached to the mating housing 100, and is electrically connected to the mating terminal fitting 180. The barrel portion 82 is crimped to the end of the electric wire W, and is electrically and mechanically connected to the electric wire W.

[0022] (housing) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and has a housing main body 21 that is rectangular in plan view and elongated in the left-right direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The housing main body 21 has a plurality of cavities 22 that extend in the front-rear direction, as shown in Figure 2. A lance 23 protrudes from the inner wall of each cavity 22. The terminal fitting 80 is inserted into the cavity 22 from the rear side, and is temporarily prevented from coming out of the housing main body 21 by engaging the connecting portion 81 with the lance 23. The electric wire W is drawn out from the cavity 22 of the housing main body 21 to the rear side.

[0023] The housing body 21 has a retainer mounting hole 24 in the middle in the front-rear direction, which opens across the left and right side surfaces and the bottom surface of the housing body 21. Each cavity 22 is divided into front and rear portions inside the housing body 21 by the retainer mounting hole 24 (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 1, the housing body 21 has a protruding wall 25 formed from the upper front end to the left and right front ends. The front surface 21A of the housing body 21 is positioned in a front-rear position corresponding to the rear ends of the protruding wall 25 (see FIG. 2).

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, the top surface of the housing body 21 is configured as an upward-facing end surface 26. The end surface 26 of the housing body 21 has, in the middle in the left-right direction, a concave surface 27 that is recessed by one step from both sides in the left-right direction. The housing 20 has a lock arm 28 that protrudes from the concave surface 27 of the housing body 21. The lock arm 28 has a pair of arm bodies 29 arranged at a distance in the left-right direction and a connecting portion 31 connected to the rear end of each arm body 29.

[0025] The arm bodies 29 are plate-shaped and extend in the front-rear direction, and are arranged parallel to one another. The front end of each arm body 29 is connected to the upper front end of the concave surface 27 of the housing body 21 and forms part of the protruding wall 25. The locking arm 28 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction, with the front end of each arm body 29 serving as a fulcrum. A locking protrusion 32 is formed on the upper surface of each arm body 29. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking protrusion 32 fits into a locking hole 111 formed in a hood portion 110 of the mating housing 100, thereby maintaining the mating state between the housing 20 and the mating housing 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the connecting portion 31 is rib-shaped and extends in the left-right direction, and its left and right ends are connected to the rear ends of each arm body 29.

[0026] 4, the lock arm 28 has an operating part 33 that protrudes upward from the connecting part 31. The operating part 33 is configured with short legs 34 that stand up from multiple locations (three locations in the illustrated example) spaced apart in the left-right direction of the connecting part 31, and an operating body 35 connected to the upper end of each leg 34.

[0027] Each leg 34 is disposed in the left-right direction at a position corresponding to each arm body 29 and at a position corresponding to a gap between each arm body 29. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the rear surface of each leg 34 is inclined upward. As shown in Fig. 4, the operation body 35 is in the shape of a plate extending in the left-right direction, and its left-right ends and middle portion are connected to the upper ends of the connecting portions 31. The upper surface of the operation body 35 is disposed one step higher than the upper surfaces of each arm body 29 and connecting portion 31, and forms an opposing surface 36 that faces a cover portion 41 (described later).

[0028] 2 and 5, the rear end of the operation body 35 is formed to be thicker than the front end of the operation body 35. As shown in Fig. 4, the rear end of the operation body 35 has a notched groove 37 in the middle in the left-right direction of the opposing surface 36. The groove 37 has a constant width in the left-right direction on the opposing surface 36 of the rear end of the operation body 35, and as shown in Fig. 5, has a sloped shape that slopes downward toward the rear.

[0029] The housing 20 has a flange portion 38 that protrudes around the entire periphery from the rear end portion of the housing main body 21. As shown in Fig. 4, the flange portion 38 has a rectangular outer shape with its four corners chamfered when viewed from behind.

[0030] 1, the housing 20 has a pair of side portions 39 on both the left and right sides of the operating portion 33 of the locking arm 28, which laterally cover the operating portion 33. Each side portion 39 protrudes from the end surface 26 of the housing main body 21, and its rear end is integrated with the flange portion 38. The side portions 39 have a tapered shape in which the distance between them decreases toward the front in a plan view.

[0031] The housing 20 has a cover portion 41 that is connected to the upper end of each side portion 39 and spans the side portions 39. The rear end of the cover portion 41 is integrated with the flange portion 38. The cover portion 41 has a trapezoidal or U-shaped outer shape that narrows toward the front in a plan view.

[0032] The front and rear ends of the cover portion 41 are arranged along the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the front end of the cover portion 41 is arranged at a position overlapping with each arm main body 29 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the cover portion 41 is arranged at the same position as the rear end of the housing main body 21 in the front-rear direction.

[0033] The cover portion 41 is located above the operating portion 33 and is arranged to cover the operating portion 33 from above. In other words, the cover portion 41 is arranged to face the entire opposing surface 36 of the operating portion 33 at a distance. The entire operating portion 33 is covered and hidden by the cover portion 41 in a plan view of the housing 20.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the top surface of the cover portion 41 is a top surface 42 against which the operator's finger F rests when mating the housing 20 and the mating housing 100. The top surface 42 of the cover portion 41 is formed with multiple step portions 43, 44. Each step portion 43, 44 faces rearward. As shown in FIG. 5, each step portion 43, 44 has a curved surface that is slightly inclined relative to the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 3, each step portion 43, 44 is trapezoidal or U-shaped in plan view and includes a straight portion 45 extending in the left-right direction and a pair of inclined portions 46 whose distance increases toward the rear. The front ends of each inclined portion 46 are connected to the left and right ends of each straight portion 45 via corners 47 that are curved in plan view. The rear ends of each inclined portion 46 are located at the rear end of the cover portion 41. The step portions 43 and 44 are similar in outer shape to the cover portion 41, and form a ripple shape as a whole in a plan view.

[0035] In the first embodiment, each of the step portions 43, 44 includes a first step portion 43 and a second step portion 44. The straight portion 45 of the first step portion 43 is disposed forward of the straight portion 45 of the second step portion 44. The corner portion 47 of the second step portion 44 has a larger radius of curvature than the corner portion 47 of the first step portion 43.

[0036] 1 and 3, on the top surface 42 of the cover portion 41, a third flat surface 48 is formed rearward of the second step portion 44, a second flat surface 49 is formed between the first step portion 43 and the second step portion 44, and a first flat surface 51 is formed forward of the first step portion 43. The first flat surface 51, the second flat surface 49, and the third flat surface 48 are all arranged facing upward and are formed flat along the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0037] The second flat surface 49 is disposed at a position one step higher than the third flat surface 48 via the second step portion 44. The first flat surface 51 is disposed at a position one step higher than the second flat surface 49 via the first step portion 43. In short, the top surface 42 of the cover portion 41 is formed in an upward staircase shape toward the front in a cross-sectional view of the housing 20, as shown in FIG.

[0038] (retainer) The retainer 90 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 2, is configured to have a retainer main body 91, a front mask portion 92, and a pair of side walls 93 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1).

[0039] 2, the retainer body 91 has a square block shape and is inserted into the retainer mounting hole 24. The retainer body 91 has a plurality of through holes 94 that communicate with each cavity 22, and a plurality of retaining portions 95 that secondarily prevent each terminal fitting 80 from coming off.

[0040] The front mask portion 92 is plate-shaped and is disposed opposite the front surface 21A of the housing main body 21. The front mask portion 92 has a plurality of tab insertion holes 96 that communicate with each of the cavities 22. A tab 181 of a mating terminal fitting 180 is inserted into each of the tab insertion holes 96 from the front. The retainer 90 is assembled to the housing main body 21 from below. The front mask portion 92 is abutted against the protruding wall 25 from below.

[0041] (Connector function) When the housing 20 and the mating housing 100 are mated, the housing 20 is pushed forward toward the mating housing 100. Due to factors such as the mounting environment of the connector 10, an operator may be forced to grasp the housing 20 from both the top and bottom sides during mating. Here, because the operating portion 33 of the locking arm 28 is located on the end surface 26 of the housing main body 21, there is a concern that the operator's finger may touch the operating portion 33 and unexpectedly press down on the operating portion 33. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the cover portion 41 is located above the operating portion 33 so as to cover the entire operating portion 33. Therefore, when performing the mating operation, the finger F can be reliably placed on the cover portion 41, as shown in FIG. 2 . In this way, the operator can perform the mating operation, for example, by placing the thumb on the cover portion 41 and the index finger on the lower end of the flange portion 38. This prevents the operating portion 33 from being pressed down by the operator's finger F during the mating operation.

[0042] During the mating process of the housing 20, the locking protrusion 32 interferes with the hood portion 110 of the mating housing 100, elastically deforming the locking arm 28 and displacing the operating portion 33 downward so as to approach the end surface 26 of the housing main body 21. Here, mating resistance occurs due to interference between the housing 20 and the mating housing 100 and contact between the terminal fittings 80 and the mating terminal fittings 180. As shown in FIG. 2 , an operator can press the stepped portions 43, 44 formed on the top surface 42 of the cover portion 41 with a finger F from behind against the mating resistance. This prevents the finger F from slipping on the top surface 42 of the cover portion 41, allowing the mating operation to proceed. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 , each stepped portion 43, 44 is trapezoidal or U-shaped in plan view, allowing the finger F to place a wide area along each stepped portion 43, 44, effectively preventing the finger F from slipping.

[0043] Thereafter, when the housing 20 reaches the correct mating position, the locking arms 28 elastically return to their original position, and the locking projections 32 fit into the locking holes 111. At the same time, the arm bodies 29, receiving the elastic reaction force of the locking arms 28, strike the inner wall (wall surface) of the hood portion 110, generating a mating sound. By hearing this mating sound, the worker can determine that the housing 20 has reached the correct mating position. In other words, the worker can auditorily know the mated state of the connector 10.

[0044] When separating the housing 20 from the mating housing 100 for maintenance or other reasons, it is necessary to elastically deform the lock arm 28 in the unlocking direction so that the lock protrusion 32 comes out of the lock hole 111. Typically, an operator can elastically deform the lock arm 28 in the unlocking direction by pressing the opposing surface 36, which is the upper surface of the operating portion 33, with a finger. However, in the first embodiment, the cover portion 41 is disposed above the operating portion 33 so as to cover the entire operating portion 33. This makes it difficult for the operator to place his or her finger on the opposing surface 36 of the operating portion 33. However, the opposing surface 36 of the operating portion 33 has a groove 37 formed therein, which slopes downward toward the rear. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 , the lock arm 28 can be elastically deformed in the unlocking direction by inserting a jig 200 between the operating portion 33 and the cover portion 41 from the rear and aligning the jig 200 with the groove 37. This allows the housing 20 to be separated from the mating housing 100.

[0045] As described above, according to the first embodiment, when mating the housing 20 with the mating housing 100, the operator can prevent the finger F from coming into contact with the rear end of the lock arm 28 by placing the finger F on the top surface 42 of the cover portion 41. As a result, the lock arm 28 can be prevented from being inadvertently elastically deformed, and when the housing 20 reaches the correct mating position, the lock arm 28 can properly elastically return to its original position and generate a predetermined mating sound. Moreover, when the housing 20 is pushed into the mating housing 100, the stepped portions 43, 44 act as a non-slip surface for the finger F, allowing the mating operation to be carried out smoothly.

[0046] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the worker's fingers F can be placed along the trapezoidal or U-shaped step portions 43, 44, which allows the fingers F to have a large grip on the step portions 43, 44, and can effectively function as anti-slip surfaces for the fingers F. Moreover, each step portion 43, 44 is formed in a ripple shape overall, which makes it easy to recognize it as a portion where the fingers F should be placed.

[0047] Furthermore, even if the operating part 33 is covered with the cover part 41, by aligning the jig 200 with the groove part 37 of the operating part 33, it is possible to properly release the engagement between the housing 20 and the mating housing 100.

[0048] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the first embodiment, a plurality of step portions are formed on the top surface of the operation unit, whereas in another embodiment, only one step portion may be formed on the top surface of the operation unit. In the first embodiment, the step portion is formed into a trapezoid or U-shape in plan view by a straight portion and a pair of inclined portions. In contrast, in other embodiments, the entire step portion may be a straight portion and formed linearly in plan view. Alternatively, the entire step portion may be formed curvedly in plan view. In the first embodiment, the lock arm is configured to elastically deform around the front end connected to the top surface of the housing body as a fulcrum. In contrast, in another embodiment, the lock arm may be configured to protrude midway in the front-to-rear direction and have a pair of support arms connected to each side, and the lock arm may be configured to elastically deform in a seesaw shape around each support arm as a fulcrum. In the first embodiment, the lock arm has a pair of arm bodies spaced apart in the left-right direction. In contrast, in other embodiments, the lock arm may have a single arm body that extends across the entire width in the left-right direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10...Connector 20…Housing 21...Housing body 21A...Front 22...cavity 23...Lance 24...Retainer mounting hole 25...projection wall 26…End face 27…Concave 28...Lock arm 29...Arm body 31...Connection part 32...Lock protrusion 33...Operation unit 34...legs 35...Operation unit 36...Opposite surface 37...Groove 38...Flange 39...Side 41...Cover 42...Top 43...First step (step) 44...Second step (step) 45...Straight section 46…Slope part 47...Corner 48...Third flat surface 49…Second flat surface 51...first flat surface 80...Terminal fitting 81...Connection 82...Barrel section 90...Retainer 91...Retainer body 92...Front mask part 93…Side wall 94...Through hole 95...Prevention part 96...Tab insertion hole 100...Matching housing 110...Hood section 111...Lock hole 180...Mating terminal fitting 181...Tab 200...jig F...Finger W…Electric wire

Claims

1. A housing is provided to be fitted into a mating housing, The housing includes: a lock arm extending from a front end to a rear end in a mating direction with the mating housing and elastically deformable in a direction intersecting the mating direction, the lock arm being engaged with the mating housing; an end surface disposed opposite to a rear end portion including the rear end of the lock arm in the intersecting direction; a pair of side portions protruding from the end surface and disposed on both sides of the rear end portion of the lock arm; a cover portion that is provided between the pair of side portions and covers the rear end portion of the lock arm from the side opposite to the end surface; a step portion formed facing rearward on a top surface of the cover portion opposite to a surface facing the lock arm, The rear end of the lock arm is configured as an operating portion that is pressed in the intersecting direction and elastically deforms the lock arm in the intersecting direction.

2. the rear end of the lock arm is disposed at a position farther from the end surface than a portion of the lock arm other than the rear end, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion is formed so as to cover the entire rear end portion of the locking arm when viewed from the side opposite to the end face.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the step portions are formed on the top surface of the cover portion and are aligned in the fitting direction.

4. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the step portion is trapezoidal or U-shaped when viewed from the opposite side of the end face.

5. The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the step portions are arranged in a row on the top surface of the cover portion in the mating direction, and each step portion is trapezoidal or U-shaped when viewed from the opposite side of the end face, and is formed in a ripple shape overall.

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