connector

Abstract

This prevents the detection component from sliding under the lock arm and moving to the detection position improperly. [Solution] The connector 10 comprises a housing 20 having a lock arm 30 and a detection member 40. The lock arm 30 extends cantilevered backward from the outer surface of the housing 20, and the detection member 40 comprises a detection member body 41, an elastic arm portion 42 extending cantilevered forward from the detection member body 41, and a stop portion 46 formed at the extended end of the elastic arm portion 42, which locks onto the lock arm 30 from the rear to suppress movement from the initial position to the detection position. An excessive deflection suppression portion 24 is formed on the outer surface of the housing 20 to suppress excessive deflection of the lock arm 30 by locking onto the extended end of the lock arm 30, and a projection 35 is formed on at least one of the extended end of the lock arm 30 or the excessive deflection suppression portion 24 to suppress forward movement of the lock arm 30 by locking onto the other when excessive deflection is suppressed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] As a connector having a fitting detection function by a detection member, the connector described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-99332 (Patent Document 1 below) is known. This connector has a lock arm that extends in a cantilever shape rearward from a housing body, and a detection member provided so as to be able to advance from an initial position to a detection position. The detection member includes an elastic arm portion that extends in a cantilever shape obliquely upward and forward, and a contact portion that is formed at an extending end portion of the elastic arm portion and restricts the movement of the detection member from the initial position to the detection position by locking the lock arm from behind. A release operation portion is formed at the rear end (tip) of the lock arm. On the upper surface of the housing, a pair of left and right wall portions and a bridge portion connecting the upper ends of the wall portions are formed. The bridge portion is formed with an excessive deflection restricting portion that restricts excessive deflection of the lock arm upward by locking the release operation portion from below.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] If the detection member is pushed forward from its initial position toward the detection position before the housing and the mating housing are engaged, the abutment engages with the lock arm from behind, causing the lock arm to lift upward, and the release operation unit engages with the excessive deflection restrictor from below, restricting excessive deflection of the lock arm. If the detection member is pushed further forward from this point, the entire lock arm may bend and deform, and the release operation unit may move forward relative to the excessive deflection restrictor and become detached. In that case, the abutment may slip under the lock arm, causing the detection member to move improperly to the detection position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The connector of this disclosure is a connector that can be mated with a mating connector, and comprises a housing having a lock arm, and a detection member assembled to the housing from the rear and capable of advancing from an initial position to a detection position, wherein the lock arm extends cantilevered rearward from the outer surface of the housing, and the detection member comprises a detection member body, an elastic arm portion extending cantilevered forward from the detection member body, and a stop portion formed at the extended end of the elastic arm portion which, by engaging with the lock arm from the rear, prevents movement from the initial position to the detection position, wherein the outer surface of the housing is formed with an excessive deflection suppression portion that engages with the extended end of the lock arm to suppress excessive deflection of the lock arm, and at least one of the extended end of the lock arm or the excessive deflection suppression portion is formed with a projection that, when excessive deflection is suppressed, engages with the other to suppress the forward movement of the lock arm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this disclosure, it is possible to prevent the detection member from sliding under the lock arm and moving to the detection position improperly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector from the front at an oblique angle. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a front view of the connector, seen from the front. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state before the mating connectors are mated at the AA cross-sectional position in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the initial mating state of the mating connectors at the AA cross-sectional position in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the mating connector and the other connector in a partially mated state at the AA cross-sectional position in Figure 2. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the mating connector and the other connector are properly mated at the AA cross-sectional position in Figure 2. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the detection member as it moves from its initial position to the detection position at the AA cross-sectional position in Figure 2. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the detection member has reached the detection position at the AA cross-sectional position in Figure 2. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the detection member has been pushed forward from its initial position toward the detection position before mating the connector and the mating connector at the AA cross-sectional position in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. [1] The connector of the present disclosure is a connector that can be mated to a mating connector and comprises a housing having a lock arm and a detection member assembled to the housing from the rear and capable of advancing from an initial position to a detection position, wherein the lock arm extends cantilevered rearward from the outer surface of the housing, and the detection member comprises a detection member body, an elastic arm portion extending cantilevered forward from the detection member body, and a stop portion formed at the extended end of the elastic arm portion which, by engaging with the lock arm from the rear, prevents movement from the initial position to the detection position, wherein the outer surface of the housing is formed with an excessive deflection suppression portion which engages with the extended end of the lock arm to suppress excessive deflection of the lock arm, and at least one of the extended end of the lock arm or the excessive deflection suppression portion is formed with a projection which, when excessive deflection is suppressed, engages with the other to suppress the advance of the lock arm.

[0009] When one connector is mated to the other, the lock arm bends and deforms, and consequently, the elastic arm portion of the detection member also bends and deforms. When the two connectors are properly mated, only the lock arm returns to its original position, and the elastic arm portion remains bent and deformed. After this, the detection member can be moved from its initial position to the detection position to detect that the properly mated state has been reached.

[0010] If, before the connector is mated to the mating connector, the sensing member is unexpectedly pushed from its initial position towards the detection position, causing the abutment portion of the elastic arm to engage with the lock arm from behind and lift the lock arm, the extended end of the lock arm engages with the excessive deflection suppression portion, thereby suppressing excessive deflection of the lock arm.

[0011] If the detection member is pushed further from this state, the entire lock arm will attempt to deform by bending, and the extended end of the lock arm will attempt to move forward relative to the excessive bending suppression part. However, in the connector of this disclosure, the forward movement of the lock arm is suppressed by a projection formed on at least one of the extended end of the lock arm or the excessive bending suppression part engaging with the other. Therefore, the extended end of the lock arm will not detach from the excessive bending suppression part, and the abutment portion of the detection member will not slip under the lock arm.

[0012] [2] The lock arm extends diagonally upward and backward from the upper surface of the housing, and it is preferable that the excessive deflection suppression part engages with the extended end of the lock arm from above to suppress excessive upward deflection of the lock arm. Because the lock arm extends diagonally upward and backward from the top surface of the housing, the abutment portion of the elastic arm engages with the lock arm from the rear, making it easier for the lock arm to be lifted. However, as described above, excessive bending of the lock arm is suppressed when the extended end of the lock arm engages with the excessive bending suppression portion, and the forward movement of the lock arm is suppressed by the projection.

[0013] [3] The extension of the lock arm has a lower restraining surface, and the excessive deflection restraining portion has an upper restraining surface that contacts the lower restraining surface when excessive deflection is restrained, and it is preferable that the upper restraining surface is a tapered surface that becomes more downward as it extends forward. Because the upper restraining surface is tapered, it becomes easier to bring the upper and lower restraining surfaces into close contact, making it easier to firmly fix the lock arm in the excessive deflection suppression section.

[0014] [4] The projection is formed on the lower restraining surface of the lock arm, and the excessive deflection restraining portion has a front locking surface that the projection engages with from the rear when forward movement is restrained, and it is preferable that the front locking surface is a tapered surface that becomes more upward as it moves forward. Since the front locking surface is a tapered surface, the protrusion locks more strongly against the front locking surface and is less likely to come off, and the protrusion can firmly suppress the forward movement of the lock arm.

[0015] [5] It is preferable that a pair of the protrusions are provided in parallel, and the pair of protrusions are connected by a rib so as to form a gate shape that opens forward. When unlocking the lock arm, it becomes easier to hook a finger or a jig on the rib, and it becomes easier to improve the releasability. Also, by connecting the pair of protrusions with a rib, the rigidity is increased, and it becomes easier to suppress the deformation of the rib due to an external force.

[0016] [6] The protrusion preferably has a rear locking surface that locks against the front locking surface from the rear, and the rear locking surface is a tapered surface that slopes upward as it goes forward. Since the rear locking surface is a tapered surface, it becomes easier to bring the front locking surface and the rear locking surface into close contact, and the protrusion can more firmly suppress the forward movement of the lock arm.

[0017] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In each drawing, for convenience of explanation, a part of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. Also, the dimensional ratios of each part may be different in each drawing. In this specification, "orthogonal" includes not only the case of strict orthogonality but also the case of approximate orthogonality within the range where the actions and effects in the present embodiment are exhibited.

[0018] Also, in this specification, "opposing" means that surfaces or members are in a front-facing position with respect to each other, and includes not only the case where they are completely in a front-facing position with respect to each other but also the case where they are partially in a front-facing position with respect to each other. Also, "opposing" in this specification includes both the case where a member different from the two parts is interposed between the two parts and the case where nothing is interposed between the two parts.

[0019] <Embodiment> Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. In the following description, the direction indicated by arrow Z is considered upward, the direction indicated by arrow X is considered forward, and the direction indicated by arrow Y is considered left. Note that for multiple identical components, reference numerals may be assigned to only some of the components, while the reference numerals for other components may be omitted.

[0020] (Connector 10) Connector 10 is designed to be mated with the mating connector 50. Connector 10 comprises a housing 20 having a locking arm 30, and a detection member 40 that is assembled to the housing 20 from the rear and is capable of moving forward from an initial position to a detection position. In the following description, the front-to-back direction will be defined as the side of the mating surfaces of both connectors 10 and 50 facing each other.

[0021] (Mother connector 50) As shown in Figure 4, the mating connector 50 is equipped with a mating housing 51 made of synthetic resin. The mating housing 51 has a cylindrical hood portion 52 that opens forward. A locking receiving portion 53 is formed at the front end of the upper wall of the hood portion 52. The locking receiving portion 53 is shaped to penetrate the upper wall in the vertical direction. The front surface of the inner wall of the locking receiving portion 53 is an inverse tapered locking receiving surface 53A that slopes slightly upward toward the front.

[0022] An interference portion 54 is formed at the front end of the upper wall of the hood portion 52, in front of the lock receiving portion 53. A tapered slope 54A is formed at the lower front end of the interference portion 54, sloping upward toward the front. The lower surface of the interference portion 54 is a pressing surface 54B that is positioned approximately horizontally from the slope 54A to the lock receiving portion 53.

[0023] (Housing 20) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a block-shaped housing body 21, a front cover 22 attached to the front of the housing body 21, and a lock arm 30 integrally connected to the upper surface of the housing body 21. The lock arm 30 extends diagonally upward and backward from the upper surface of the housing body 21 in a cantilevered manner. The lock arm 30 is designed to bend and deform in the vertical direction. Terminal fittings (not shown) can be inserted into the interior of the housing body 21.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, an arch-shaped excessive deflection suppression section 24 is formed on the upper surface of the rear end of the housing body 21, surrounding the release operation section 34 of the lock arm 30, which will be described later. The inner space of the excessive deflection suppression section 24 is an assembly space 25 into which the detection member 40 is inserted from the rear.

[0025] The excessive deflection suppression section 24 includes a pair of symmetrical outer walls 26 rising upward from both left and right ends of the upper surface of the housing body 21, a pair of left and right inner walls 27 located inside the two outer walls 26 and rising upward from the upper surface of the housing body 21, and a horizontal, flat bridge section 28 that is connected to the upper ends of both inner walls 27 and both outer walls 26 and spans the entire width of the housing body 21.

[0026] The bridge section 28 is supported at its left and right ends by two pairs of side walls 26 and 27, respectively, spaced apart from each other. The lower surface of the bridge section 28 is an upper restraining surface 28A. The upper restraining surface 28A is a tapered surface that slopes downwards towards the front.

[0027] (Lock Arm 30) As shown in Figure 3, the lock arm 30 is configured to extend cantilevered backward from the upper surface of the front end of the housing body 21. A flex space is formed between the lower surface of the lock arm 30 and the upper surface of the housing body 21 to allow for elastic deflection of the lock arm 30 during the process of the connector 10 and the mating connector 50 mating.

[0028] A locking projection 31 is formed projecting upward from approximately the center of the lock arm 30 in the front-rear direction. The rear surface of the locking projection 31 is a locking surface 31A that is open to the rear. The upper side of the locking surface 31A, which faces the locking receiving surface 53A of the lock receiving portion 53, has a slightly reverse tapered shape, and the lower side, which faces the abutment portion 46 of the detection member 40 (described later), has a slightly tapered shape.

[0029] The lock arm 30 has a base end 32 located in front of the lock projection 31. The base end 32 is connected to the upper surface of the housing body 21 and serves as a pivot point for the bending motion of the lock arm 30. As shown in Figure 1, the lock arm 30 has a pair of symmetrical side frame portions 33 extending rearward from both the left and right sides of the lock projection 31, and a release operation portion 34 for unlocking the lock arm 30.

[0030] The release operation section 34 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The upper surface of the release operation section 34 is the lower restraint surface 34A. The lower restraint surface 34A has a pair of left and right protrusions 35 and a rib 36 that connects the rear ends of these protrusions 35. The pair of protrusions 35 and the rib 36 as a whole have a gate shape that opens forward when viewed from above.

[0031] In the front-rear direction, the front edge of the release operation section 34 is set at approximately the same position as the front edge of the bridge section 28. The rear edge of the release operation section 34 is set at a position further back than the rear edge of the bridge section 28. Therefore, the front end region of the release operation section 34 is covered from above by the bridge section 28 across its entire width in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the rear end region of the release operation section 34 is not covered from above by the bridge section 28 and is open to the top.

[0032] The front surface of the projection 35 is designated as the rear locking surface 35A. On the other hand, the rear surface of the bridge portion 28 is designated as the front locking surface 28B. In the front-rear direction, the rear locking surface 35A is positioned further back than the front locking surface 28B. When the lock arm 30 is lifted, as shown in Figure 10, the lower restraining surface 34A tightly locks against the upper restraining surface 28A from below, and the rear locking surface 35A tightly locks against the front locking surface 28B from behind, thereby firmly preventing the lock arm 30 from moving forward (from coming out forward).

[0033] As shown in Figure 7, when both connectors 10 and 50 are properly mated, the locking projection 31 elastically fits into the locking receiving portion 53 from below, and the locking surface 31A is positioned to lock onto the locking receiving surface 53A, thereby holding both connectors 10 and 50 in the properly mated state. On the other hand, when both connectors 10 and 50 are properly mated, pressing the upper surface of the release operation portion 34 downward causes the locking arm 30 to bend and deform into the bending space. This causes the locking projection 31 to disengage from the locking receiving portion 53, making it possible to separate the two connectors 10 and 50.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3, a receiving recess 37 is formed on the lower surface of the lock arm 30, opening to the rear. In the front-rear direction, the receiving recess 37 is positioned to correspond to the lock projection 31. The receiving recess 37 is sized and shaped to accommodate the projection 44 of the detection member 40, which will be described later, and opens to the lower surface (flexible space side) of the lock arm 30 and to the rear surface of the lock projection 31.

[0035] (Detection member 40) The detection member 40 is made of synthetic resin and has a detection member body 41 and an elastic arm portion 42 integrally connected to the front end of the detection member body 41. The detection member 40 is assembled to be movable from the initial position shown in Figure 3, through the standby position shown in Figure 7, to the detection position shown in Figure 9.

[0036] An operating section 43 is formed at the rear end of the upper surface of the detection member body 41, protruding upward. A finger or jig can be hooked onto the operating section 43, and by pulling it backward in this state, the detection member 40 is pulled back from the detection position to the initial position.

[0037] The elastic arm portion 42 is shaped to extend cantileveredly from the center of the front surface of the detection member body 41 in the left-right direction, diagonally upward and forward. The elastic arm portion 42 is shaped like a rectangular bar and is capable of bending and deforming vertically with its rear end, which is connected to the front surface of the detection member body 41, as the pivot point. In its natural state, the elastic arm portion 42 is shaped to be inclined upward at a nearly constant angle from the rear end to the front end.

[0038] As the detection member 40 is displaced from the initial position shown in Figure 4 to the standby position shown in Figure 7, the elastic arm portion 42 is deformed to gradually reduce its inclination angle. When the detection member 40 reaches the detection position shown in Figure 9, the elastic arm portion 42 assumes a nearly horizontal position without substantially inclination. As a result, the elastic arm portion 42 accumulates elastic force in both the standby position and the detection position.

[0039] A block-shaped projection 44 is formed at the front end of the elastic arm portion 42, protruding upward. A contact portion 45 is formed at the lower front end of the projection 44, protruding forward. When the detection member 40 is in its initial position, as shown in Figure 4, the upper surface of the contact portion 45 is positioned almost horizontally and contacts the upper surface of the housing recess 37 from below.

[0040] The portion of the projection 44 that rises upward from the rear end of the contact portion 45 is designated as the abutment portion 46. The abutment portion 46 is positioned to extend vertically when the elastic arm portion 42 is in its natural state. Furthermore, when the detection member 40 is in its initial position, the abutment portion 46 is positioned to face the locking surface 31A of the lock projection 31 from the rear.

[0041] (Operation description of connector 10) Next, the operation of the connector 10 will be explained. During assembly, the detection member 40 is first inserted into the assembly space 25 of the housing body 21 from the rear. When the detection member 40 reaches its initial position, the abutment portion 46 is positioned to be able to be locked from the rear onto the locking surface 31A of the locking projection 31. Therefore, if an attempt is made to push the detection member 40 forward from its initial position, the abutment portion 46 will come into contact with the locking surface 31A, preventing the detection member 40 from advancing any further.

[0042] In the initial position, the contact portion 45 abuts against the upper surface of the inner wall of the housing recess 37 from below, and the elastic arm portion 42 is held in place while accumulating elastic force against the lock arm 30. Furthermore, as the contact portion 45 abuts against the upper surface of the inner wall of the housing recess 37, the locking allowance between the abutment portion 46 and the locking surface 31A of the lock projection 31 is automatically set to a predetermined value. Moreover, as the contact portion 45 abuts against the upper surface of the inner wall of the housing recess 37 from below, the elastic arm portion 42 is prevented from being displaced upward relative to the lock arm 30, that is, the contact between the abutment portion 46 and the locking surface 31A is prevented. Therefore, the forward movement of the detection member 40 is more reliably suppressed.

[0043] Here, it is conceivable that the detection member 40 may be subjected to an external force that causes it to be pushed forward. In this case, first the abutment portion 46 contacts the locking surface 31A from the rear, causing the entire lock arm 30 to swing with the base end portion 32 as the pivot point. Next, as shown in Figure 10, the contact portion 45 contacts the inner wall of the housing recess 37 from below, causing the lock arm 30 to swing. Then, the lower restraining surface 34A of the release operation portion 34 contacts the upper restraining surface 28A of the bridge portion 28 from below, stopping the swing of the lock arm 30.

[0044] If the detection member 40 is pushed further forward from this state, the entire lock arm 30 will attempt to bend and deform diagonally upward and forward, and the release operation part 34 of the lock arm 30 will attempt to move forward relative to the excessive bending suppression part 24. However, in the connector 10 of this disclosure, the lower suppression surface 34A is in close contact with the upper suppression surface 28A, and the rear locking surface 35A of the projection 35 is in close contact with the front locking surface 28B of the bridge part 28, thereby firmly suppressing the forward movement of the lock arm 30. In this way, the lock arm 30 is prevented from coming loose in front of the excessive bending suppression part 24.

[0045] During the fitting process in which the housing body 21 is fitted into the hood portion 52 of the mating housing 51, as shown in Figure 5, the lock projection 31 slides against the inclined surface 54A of the interference portion 54, causing the lock arm 30 and elastic arm portion 42 to bend and deform downward. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 6, the lock projection 31 is pressed against the pressing surface 54B of the interference portion 54, and the lock arm 30 is accommodated in the bent space. When the housing 20 is properly fitted into the mating housing 51, the pressure on the lock projection 31 from the interference portion 54 is released, and as shown in Figure 7, the lock arm 30 elastically returns to its original position, and the lock projection 31 fits into the lock receiving portion 53 from below. As a result, the upper part of the locking surface 31A of the lock projection 31 is positioned to be able to lock onto the locking receiving surface 53A of the lock receiving portion 53, and both housings 20 and 51 are held in a properly fitted state.

[0046] When housing 20 is properly fitted into mating housing 51, the projection 44 is pressed downward by the interference portion 54. At this time, the projection 44 does not follow the return movement of lock arm 30, but maintains contact with the interference portion 54, and the contact portion 45 disengages from the housing recess 37. As a result, the detection member 40 is left in a standby position where the elastic arm portion 42 is separated from lock arm 30 and in contact with mating housing 51. In the standby position, the elastic arm portion 42 is bent and deformed by the interference portion 54, taking on a nearly horizontal tilted position.

[0047] When a forward pushing force is applied to the detection member 40 in the standby position, as shown in Figure 8, the inclined surface of the projection 44 slides against the lower end of the locking surface 31A, causing the elastic arm portion 42 to bend and deform downward, and the projection 44 is inserted into the housing recess 37 from the rear. When the detection member 40 reaches the detection position, as shown in Figure 9, the projection 44 fits into and is housed in the housing recess 37. The projection 44 abuts against the front surface of the inner wall of the housing recess 37, which prevents the detection member 40 from moving any further forward.

[0048] At the detection position, the elastic arm portion 42 is held in a nearly horizontal position with elastic force stored between the lock arm 30 and the housing body 21. The elastic arm portion 42 is then inserted to the correct depth into the bending space of the lock arm 30, thereby suppressing the bending movement of the lock arm 30, and as a result, the correct fitted state of both housings 20 and 51 is firmly maintained.

[0049] On the other hand, if the housing 20 is not properly fitted into the mating housing 51 but remains in a partially fitted state, as shown in Figure 6, the lock arm 30 will remain in a bent and deformed state due to being pressed against the pressing surface 54B of the interference portion 54. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to push the detection member 40 forward in this state, the protrusion 44 will interfere with the lock projection 31, preventing the elastic arm portion 42 from entering the bent space of the lock arm 30, and thus preventing the detection member 40 from moving to the detection position. Therefore, it is possible to know whether the housing 20 is properly fitted into the mating housing 51 by whether or not the detection member 40 can move to the detection position.

[0050] Furthermore, when separating the two housings 20 and 51 which are held in the normal mating state, first place your finger or a jig on the operating part 43, and then pull the detection member 40 backward. The backward pulling force applied to the detection member 40 will pull the detection member 40 back to its initial position.

[0051] Subsequently, a finger or tool is placed on the rib 36 and the release operation part 34 is pushed downward. At this time, the bridge part 28 is positioned above the release operation part 34, but since the rib 36 is located behind the rear end of the bridge part 28, the lock release operation can be performed. Here, since the rib 36 is integrally formed with a pair of protrusions 35 and has high rigidity, even if a strong force is applied to the rib 36 by a finger or tool, the rib 36 will not be crushed and the shape of the rib 36 will be maintained.

[0052] When the release operation unit 34 is operated to release the lock, the lock arm 30 elastically flexes downward, the lock projection 31 separates from the lock receiving unit 53, and the locking state between the lock arm 30 and the lock receiving unit 53 is released. After this, by keeping the release operation unit 34 pressed down and pulling the housing 20 away from the mating housing 51, the two housings 20 and 51 are separated from each other.

[0053] (Effects of the embodiment) The connector 10 of the embodiment is a connector 10 that can be mated with a mating connector 50, and comprises a housing 20 having a lock arm 30, and a detection member 40 assembled to the housing 20 from the rear and capable of advancing from an initial position to a detection position, wherein the lock arm 30 extends cantilevered to the rear from the outer surface of the housing 20, and the detection member 40 has a detection member body 41, an elastic arm portion 42 that extends cantilevered to the front from the detection member body 41, and a stop portion 46 formed at the extended end of the elastic arm portion 42 that, by engaging with the lock arm 30 from the rear, suppresses movement from the initial position to the detection position, and the outer surface of the housing 20 has an excessive deflection suppression portion 24 that engages with the extended end of the lock arm 30 to suppress excessive deflection of the lock arm 30, and the extended end of the lock arm 30 has a projection 35 that engages with the excessive deflection suppression portion 24 when excessive deflection is suppressed to suppress the advance of the lock arm 30.

[0054] When connector 10 is mated with mating connector 50, the lock arm 30 bends and deforms, and consequently, the elastic arm portion 42 of the detection member 40 also bends and deforms. When mating connector 50 and connector 10 are properly mated, only the lock arm 30 returns to its original position, and the elastic arm portion 42 remains in a bent and deformed state. After this, the detection member 40 can be moved from its initial position to the detection position to detect that the properly mated state has been reached.

[0055] If, before the connector 10 is mated with the mating connector 50, the detection member 40 is unexpectedly pushed from its initial position toward the detection position, causing the abutment portion 46 of the elastic arm portion 42 to engage with the lock arm 30 from behind and lift the lock arm 30, the extended end of the lock arm 30 engages with the excessive bending suppression portion 24, thereby suppressing excessive bending of the lock arm 30.

[0056] If the detection member 40 is pushed further from this state, the entire lock arm 30 will attempt to bend and deform, and the extended end of the lock arm 30 will attempt to move forward relative to the excessive bending suppression part 24. However, in the connector 10 of this embodiment, the projection 35 formed on the extended end of the lock arm 30 engages with the excessive bending suppression part 24, thereby suppressing the forward movement of the lock arm 30. Therefore, the extended end of the lock arm 30 will not detach from the excessive bending suppression part 24, and the abutment portion 46 of the detection member 40 will not slip under the lock arm 30.

[0057] The lock arm 30 extends diagonally upward and backward from the upper surface of the housing 20, and it is preferable that the excessive deflection suppression part 24 locks onto the extended end of the lock arm 30 from above to suppress excessive upward deflection of the lock arm 30. Since the lock arm 30 extends diagonally upward and backward from the upper surface of the housing 20, the abutment portion 46 of the elastic arm portion 42 engages with the lock arm 30 from the rear, making it easier to lift the lock arm 30. However, as described above, the extended end of the lock arm 30 engages with the excessive deflection suppression portion 24, which suppresses excessive deflection of the lock arm 30, and the projection 35 suppresses the forward movement of the lock arm 30.

[0058] A lower restraining surface 34A is formed on the extended portion of the lock arm 30, and the excessive deflection restraining portion 24 has an upper restraining surface 28A that contacts the lower restraining surface 34A when excessive deflection is restrained, and it is preferable that the upper restraining surface 28A is a tapered surface that becomes more downward as it extends forward. Because the upper restraining surface 28A is tapered, it becomes easier to bring the upper restraining surface 28A and the lower restraining surface 34A into close contact, making it easier to firmly fix the lock arm 30 with the excessive deflection restraining part 24.

[0059] The projection 35 is formed on the lower restraining surface 34A of the lock arm 30, and the excessive deflection restraining portion 24 has a front locking surface 28B that engages with the projection 35 from the rear when forward movement is restrained, and it is preferable that the front locking surface 28B is a tapered surface that becomes more upward as it extends forward.

[0060] Because the front locking surface 28B is tapered, the projection 35 locks more strongly against the front locking surface 28B, making it less likely to come loose, and the projection 35 can firmly restrain the forward movement of the lock arm 30.

[0061] Preferably, the projections 35 are provided in pairs in parallel, and the pair of projections 35 are connected by ribs 36 to form a gate shape that opens forward. When unlocking the lock arm 30, it becomes easier to hook a finger or tool onto the rib 36, improving the ease of release. In addition, connecting the pair of protrusions 35 with the rib 36 increases rigidity, making it easier to suppress deformation of the rib 36 due to external forces.

[0062] The projection 35 has a rear locking surface 35A that locks onto the front locking surface 28B from the rear, and it is preferable that the rear locking surface 35A is a tapered surface that becomes more upward as it approaches the front. Because the rear locking surface 35A is tapered, it becomes easier to bring the front locking surface 28B and the rear locking surface 35A into close contact, further strengthening the forward suppression of the lock arm 30 by the projection 35.

[0063] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0064] In the above embodiment, a projection 35 is formed on the release operation section 34, but the forward movement of the lock arm 30 may also be suppressed by forming a projection on the excessive bending suppression section 24 and engaging this projection with the release operation section 34 from the front.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the example shows that the lock arm 30 is formed on the upper surface of the housing body 21, but the lock arm 30 only needs to be formed on the outer surface of the housing body 21, and may be formed on the side or bottom surface of the housing body 21.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the lock arm 30 is shown extending diagonally upward and backward from the upper surface of the housing body 21, but the lock arm may also extend backward parallel to the upper surface of the housing body 21.

[0067] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the upper restraining surface 28A is a tapered surface, but the upper locking surface may be parallel to the upper surface of the housing body 21.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the front locking surface 28B is shown as a tapered surface, but the front locking surface may be perpendicular to the upper surface of the housing body 21.

[0069] In the above embodiment, a pair of protrusions 35 are shown connected by a rib 36, but the number of protrusions 35 may be one or three or more, and the rib 36 may be omitted.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the rear locking surface 35A is shown as a tapered surface, but the rear locking surface may be perpendicular to the upper surface of the housing body 21. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] 10: Connector 20: Housing 21: Housing body 22: Front cover 24: Excessive deflection suppression section 25: Assembly space 26:Outer wall 27: Inner wall 28: Bridge section 28A: Upper suppression surface 28B: Front locking surface 30: Lock Arm 31: Locking protrusion 31A:Latching surface 32: Proximal end 33: Side frame part 34: Release operation part 34A: Lower suppression surface 35: Protrusion 35A: Rear locking surface 36: Rib 37: Recessed area 40: Detection element 41: Detection component body 42: Elastic arm section 43:Operation unit 44: Protrusion 45: Contact part 46: Assault Unit 50: Mate connector 51: Opponent Housing 52: Food Department 53: Lock receiver 53A: Locking receiving surface 54: Interference section 54A: Slope 54B: Pressing surface

Claims

1. A connector that can be mated to a mating connector, A housing with a locking arm, The housing comprises a detection member that is assembled from the rear and is capable of moving forward from an initial position to a detection position, The lock arm extends cantilevered rearward from the outer surface of the housing, The detection member comprises a detection member body, an elastic arm portion extending forward from the detection member body in a cantilevered manner, and a stopper portion formed at the extended end of the elastic arm portion, which is locked to the lock arm from the rear, thereby suppressing movement from the initial position to the detection position. An excessive deflection suppression portion is formed on the outer surface of the housing, which engages with the extended end of the lock arm to suppress excessive deflection of the lock arm. A connector wherein at least one of the extended end of the lock arm or the excessive deflection suppression part has a projection formed thereon that engages with the other when excessive deflection is suppressed, thereby suppressing the forward movement of the lock arm.

2. The lock arm extends diagonally upward and backward from the upper surface of the housing, The connector according to claim 1, wherein the excessive deflection suppression part locks onto the extended end of the lock arm from above to suppress excessive upward deflection of the lock arm.

3. A lower restraining surface is formed on the extended portion of the lock arm. The excessive deflection suppression part has an upper suppression surface that contacts the lower suppression surface when excessive deflection is suppressed. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the upper restraining surface is a tapered surface that becomes more downward as it approaches the front.

4. The projection is formed on the lower restraining surface of the lock arm, The excessive deflection suppression part has a front locking surface that engages the projection from the rear when forward movement is suppressed. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the front locking surface is a tapered surface that becomes more upward towards the front.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the projections are provided in a pair in parallel, and the pair of projections are connected by a rib to form a gate shape that opens forward.

6. The connector according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the projection has a rear locking surface that locks with the front locking surface from behind, and the rear locking surface is a tapered surface that becomes more upward as it approaches the front.

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