Connector device

Abstract

To prevent damage to the housing. [Solution] The connector device 10 comprises a housing 30 that can be mated with a mating connector 55, and a holder 12 having a rear wall portion 13 and a pair of left and right side wall portions 14. Guide grooves 16 are formed in the side wall portions 14, opening to the inner surface and front surface of the side wall portion 14. On both the left and right sides of the housing 30, protruding guided portions 40 are formed, which are housed in the guide grooves 16 and can be displaced relative to each other in the front-rear direction. An elastically deformable lock arm 20 is formed inside the guide groove 16, and a retaining projection 44 is formed on the guided portions 40 that prevents the guided portions 40 from detaching from the guide grooves 16 by engaging with the lock arm 20.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a floating connector including a slide housing to which contacts are attached and a base housing that holds the slide housing so as to be relatively displaceable in both the depth direction and the width direction. This floating connector can absorb misalignment in a two-dimensional direction orthogonal to the fitting direction during the fitting process with a mating connector. <********>

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above floating connector slides with the protruding portion of the slide housing fitted into the groove of the base housing. In such a fitting structure, it is preferable to provide means for preventing the protruding portion from detaching from the groove. As such detachment prevention means, a structure in which an elastically deformable lock arm is provided on the protruding portion and the lock arm is locked to a stopper provided in the groove can be considered. However, if the lock arm is arranged on the outer surface of the protruding portion, there is a concern that the lock arm may be damaged due to interference between the slide housings when a large number of slide housings are packed in boxes or bags and transported.

[0005] The connector device of the present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to suppress damage to the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector device of this disclosure is A housing that can be mated with the other connector, A holder having a rear wall and a pair of left and right side walls, Guide grooves are formed in the side wall portion, opening to the inner surface and the front surface of the side wall portion. On both the left and right sides of the housing, protruding guided portions are formed that are housed in the guide grooves so as to be able to be displaced relative to each other in the front-rear direction. An elastically deformable lock arm is formed inside the guide groove. The guided portion is provided with a retaining projection that, by engaging with the lock arm, restricts the guided portion from detaching from the guide groove. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, damage to the housing can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the connector device of Example 1 and the mating connector in a detached state. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the support member and connector device. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a front view showing the connector device attached to the support member. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view showing the connector device attached to the support member. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 3. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line XX, showing the housing in a state where it has slid forward relative to the holder. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line XX, showing the housing in a state where it has slid backward relative to the holder. [Figure 8]Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line XX, showing the state in which mating between the obliquely oriented mating connector and the connector device has begun. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. Any combination of the following embodiments, in a manner that does not create a contradiction, is also included as a form for carrying out the invention. The connector device of this disclosure is (1) The device comprises a housing that can be mated with a mating connector, and a holder having a rear wall and a pair of left and right side walls, wherein guide grooves are formed in the side walls, opening to the inner surface and front surface of the side walls, and protruding guided portions are formed on both the left and right sides of the housing so as to be able to be displaced relative to each other in the front-rear direction, and elastically deformable lock arms are formed inside the guide grooves, and retaining protrusions are formed on the guided portions that, by engaging with the lock arms, restrict the guided portions from coming out of the guide grooves. With this configuration, since the elastically deformable lock arms are housed inside the guide grooves, damage to the lock arms due to interference with foreign matter can be suppressed. Therefore, damage to the housing can be suppressed.

[0010] (2) In (1), it is preferable that a restricting projection is formed on the surface of the guided portion facing the lock arm, which contacts the lock arm to suppress the vertical movement of the housing. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the housing from rattling in the vertical direction relative to the holder.

[0011] (3)(2) The housing is capable of tilting in the front-rear direction to match the tilt of the mating connector in the front-rear direction, the guided portion is curved to protrude downward in a side view and has a rolling surface that contacts the upward support surface of the guide groove, a vertical clearance is provided between the guided portion and the inner surface of the guide groove to allow the guided portion to tilt in the front-rear direction within the guide groove, and the regulating projection is preferably positioned in the center of the guided portion in the front-rear direction.

[0012] When the housing tilts in the front-to-back direction to match the tilted mating connector, the guided portion also tilts in the front-to-back direction within the guide groove. In order to allow the front-to-back tilt of the guided portion within the guide groove, it is necessary to secure vertical oscillation space between the guided portion and the inner surface of the guide groove. Taking this into consideration, the regulating projection is positioned in the center of the guided portion in the front-to-back direction. With this arrangement, it is easy to secure oscillation space on both sides of the regulating projection in the front-to-back direction to allow the front-to-back tilt of the guided portion within the guide groove.

[0013] (4) In (2) or (3), the lock arm is positioned on the side of the guided portion that is facing the regulating projection in the guide groove, and when the guided portion is restricted from detaching from the guide groove by the lock arm, it is preferable that the maximum displacement range of the regulating projection in the front-rear direction is the same as or narrower than the formation range of the lock arm. With this configuration, when the guided portion is not detached from the guide groove, the vertical rattle of the housing relative to the holder can be suppressed regardless of the position of the housing relative to the holder in the front-rear direction.

[0014] (5)(4), the locking arm has a fulcrum portion connected to the opposing surface of the guide groove and an elastically deformable movable arm portion extending in a cantilever manner from the fulcrum portion. A locking protrusion for restricting the detachment of the guided portion from the guide groove is formed at the extending end portion of the movable arm portion by engaging the retaining protrusion. In a state where the retaining protrusion is engaged with the locking protrusion, it is preferable that the restricting protrusion is located within the formation range of the fulcrum portion in the front-rear direction. According to this configuration, in a state where the retaining protrusion is engaged with the locking protrusion, the restricting protrusion abuts against the fulcrum portion connected to the opposing surface of the guide groove. Since the fulcrum portion connected to the opposing surface of the guide groove does not elastically deform, the vertical displacement of the guided portion by the restricting protrusion can be effectively suppressed, and thus the detachment of the retaining protrusion from the locking protrusion can be prevented.

[0015] [Details of the Embodiment of the Present Disclosure] [Example 1] The connector device 10 of Example 1 embodying the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and includes all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In Example 1, regarding the front-rear direction, the A direction in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 to 8 is defined as the front. Regarding the up-down direction, the H direction in FIGS. 1 to 8 is defined as the up. Regarding the left-right direction, the R direction in FIGS. 1 to 4 is defined as the right.

[0016] The connector device 10 of Example 1 is a device that constitutes a floating connector A by being attached to a panel-shaped support member P. The support member P is fixed to, for example, an automobile chassis (not shown) with the plate thickness direction oriented in the front-rear direction. A pair of mounting holes H penetrating the support member P are formed in the support member P.

[0017] The connector device 10 is designed to be mated from below to a mating connector 55 attached to the body of an automobile (not shown). The mating connector 55 has female mating terminals (not shown). On the surface of the mating connector 55 facing the connector device 10 (bottom surface), a guide portion 56 is formed that protrudes toward the connector device 10. The guide portion 56 has a guide surface 57 that is inclined with respect to the mating direction (up and down direction) with respect to the mating direction with respect to the mating connector 55. When the connector device 10 and the mating connector 55 are mated with a misalignment in a two-dimensional direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the mating direction, the guide surface 57 slides against the connector device 10, thereby correcting the misalignment in the two-dimensional direction (front-back direction and left-right direction) between the connector device 10 and the mating connector 55.

[0018] The connector device 10 includes a movable member 11 attached to a support member P and a male terminal fitting (not shown). The movable member 11 is constructed by assembling one holder 12 and one housing 30. The holder 12 is made of synthetic resin and is a single component having a rear wall portion 13 and a pair of symmetrical side wall portions 14. For example, two clips 15 are provided on the rear surface of the rear wall portion 13. The holder 12 (movable member 11) is attached to the support member P by fitting the two clips 15 into a pair of mounting holes H.

[0019] A pair of symmetrical guide grooves 16 are formed in the pair of side wall portions 14. The guide grooves 16 have a shape that extends in the front-rear direction and open to the inner surface and front end surface of the side wall portion 14. The lower surface on the inner surface of the guide groove 16 functions as a support surface 17 for supporting the housing 30. The support surface 17 is composed of a plane that is perpendicular to the fitting direction and extends in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction).

[0020] As shown in Figures 5-8, a lock arm 20 is formed within the guide groove 16. The lock arm 20 has a pivot point 21 connected to the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16, an elastically deformable movable arm portion 22 extending forward in a cantilevered manner from the pivot point 21, and a lock projection 24. The movable arm portion 22 is parallel to the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16. The pivot point 21 is, for example, a projection that protrudes downward from the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16. The pivot point 21 is a solid portion without an internal hollow and is a portion that is less prone to elastic deformation. The movable arm portion 22 is designed to be elastically deformable vertically with the front end of the pivot point 21 as the pivot point. A deflection allowance space 23 is formed between the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16 and the movable arm portion 22 to allow the movable arm portion 22 to be elastically deformed upward. The locking projection 24 is a portion that protrudes downward from the extended end (rear end) of the movable arm portion 22. The entire lock arm 20 is located below the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16. Furthermore, the entire lock arm 20 is contained within the range of the guide groove 16 in the left-right direction when viewed from the front-rear direction, for example (see Figure 3). The lower surface 25 of the lock arm 20, excluding the locking projection 24, is parallel to the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16.

[0021] The housing 30 is a single component having a block-shaped terminal holding portion 31 and a rectangular tubular fitting portion 32 extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface 31A of the terminal holding portion 31. The upper surface 31A is an example of a fitting plane. The upper surface 31A is a plane perpendicular to the actual fitting direction between the housing 30 and the mating connector 55. The housing 30 is housed inside the holder 12. In other words, the housing 30 is housed in a space enclosed by the rear wall portion 13 and the left and right side wall portions 14. A male terminal fitting (not shown) is held in the terminal holding portion 31. The tab of the terminal fitting is arranged inside the fitting portion 32.

[0022] As shown in Figure 4, in a plan view of the housing 30 from above, the opening edge of the mating portion 32 forms a rectangle with its longer side oriented in the left-right direction. A tapered guide slope 33 is formed at the upper end of the opening edge of the mating portion 32. The mating portion 32 is the part into which the mating connector 55 is inserted from above. The mating portion 32 is composed of a front wall 34, a pair of left and right side walls 35, and a rear wall 36. The inner surfaces of the front wall 34 and the rear wall 36 of the mating portion 32 function as a pair of interference portions 37.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1-4, a pair of symmetrical guided portions 40 are formed on the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls 35 of the fitting portion 32. As shown in Figures 4-8, the guided portions 40 are protruding parts that have an elongated shape in the front-rear direction as a whole. The direction in which the pair of guided portions 40 protrude from the side wall surface 35 is, for example, away from the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls 35 in the left-right direction. The left-right separation dimension of the protruding end faces of the pair of guided portions 40 is greater than the left-right separation dimension of the outer surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 35.

[0024] The upper surface 41 of the guided portion 40 has a restricting projection 42 and a retaining projection 44 that protrude upward from the guided portion 40. The restricting projection 42 is located, for example, in the center of the guided portion 40 in the front-rear direction. Note that the restricting projection 42 is considered to be located in the center of the guided portion 40 in the front-rear direction if it is located in a region that includes the center of the guided portion 40 in the front-rear direction. In a side view of the housing 30 viewed from the side, the restricting projection 42 is, for example, triangular. Note that the shape of the restricting projection 42 in the side view is not limited to a triangle, but may be a semicircle, etc. In the side view, the top 43 of the upper end of the restricting projection 42 is located, for example, in the center of the guided portion 40 in the front-rear direction. The retaining projection 44 is located, for example, at the rear end of the guided portion 40. The lower surface of the guided portion 40 functions as a rolling surface 45 that is curved to be convex downward. In a side view, the rolling surface 45 is in the shape of a circular arc with constant curvature.

[0025] The housing 30 is attached to the holder 12 with the terminal holding portion 31 and the mating portion 32 housed inside the holder 12, and the pair of guided portions 40 housed in the pair of guide grooves 16. When assembling the housing 30 to the holder 12, the guided portions 40 are inserted into the guide grooves 16 from the front of the housing 30. During insertion, the retaining projection 44 of the guided portion 40 interferes with the locking projection 24 of the lock arm 20, causing the movable arm portion 22 to elastically deform upward. When the retaining projection 44 passes the locking projection 24 and the movable arm portion 22 elastically returns downward, the assembly of the housing 30 to the holder 12 is completed.

[0026] When the guided portion 40 is installed in the guide groove 16, the rolling surface 45 is in contact with the support surface 17 while resting on it. The position of the housing 30 when it is facing the mating connector 55 without tilting in a side view is defined as the neutral position. The point on the rolling surface 45 that contacts the support surface 17 when the housing 30 is in the neutral position is defined as the pivot point 46. As shown in Figure 5, in a side view, the pivot point 46 is located on a vertical line V passing through the center of gravity G of the housing 30, between the pair of front and rear interfering portions 37.

[0027] In a top-down plan view of the movable member 11, when the left-right center of the housing 30 coincides with the left-right center of the holder 12, as shown in Figure 4, there is a first clearance 51 between the left and right outer surfaces of the housing 30 and the left and right side walls 14 of the holder 12. When the retaining projection 44 of the guided portion 40 is engaged with the lock projection 24 of the lock arm 20 from the rear, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, there is a second clearance 52 between the rear wall 13 of the holder 12 and the rear surface of the housing 30. Due to this first clearance 51 and second clearance 52, the housing 30 can be displaced relative to the holder 12 in the horizontal direction (front-rear direction and left-right direction) perpendicular to the fitting direction between the mating connector 55 and the housing 30.

[0028] When the housing 30 is displaced horizontally relative to the holder 12, the rolling surface 45 slides against the support surface 17. When the guided portion 40 is displaced forward, which is the direction away from the guide groove 16, the retaining projection 44 engages with the lock arm 20 by abutting against the lock projection 24 from the rear, as shown in Figure 6. The retaining projection 44 then engages with the lock projection 24 from the rear, restricting further displacement of the guided portion 40. This prevents the guided portion 40 from disengaging from the guide groove 16. When the guided portion 40 is displaced backward, as shown in Figure 7, the rear end of the guided portion 40 abuts against the rear surface 19 of the guide groove 16, thereby restricting further backward displacement of the guided portion 40.

[0029] When the guided portion 40 is installed in the guide groove 16, the top 43 of the restricting projection 42 is in contact with or in close proximity to the lower surface 25 of the lock arm 20. When the housing 30 attempts to displace upward relative to the holder 12, the top 43 of the restricting projection 42 abuts against the lower surface 25 of the lock arm 20 from below. This abutment action restricts the relative upward displacement of the housing 30 relative to the holder 12. In other words, it is possible to suppress rattling of the housing 30 in the vertical direction relative to the holder 12.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6, when the guided portion 40 is prevented from coming out of the guide groove 16 by the locking projection 44 engaging with the lock projection 24, the top 43 of the restricting projection 42 is positioned to face the front end of the pivot point 21 of the lock arm 20. As shown in Figure 7, when the guided portion 40 is abutting against the rear surface 19 of the guide groove 16, the top 43 of the restricting projection 42 is positioned to face the rear end of the pivot point 21 or the front end of the movable arm portion 22. Therefore, when the guided portion 40 is prevented from coming out of the guide groove 16, the top 43 of the restricting projection 42 is positioned to face the lower surface 25 of the lock arm 20, regardless of where the guided portion 40 is within its sliding range. Thus, when the guided portion 40 is held in a locked state within the guide groove 16, upward displacement of the housing 30 relative to the holder 12, i.e., large vertical rattling of the housing 30 relative to the holder 12 is prevented.

[0031] As shown in Figures 5-7, when the housing 30 is in a neutral position, a third clearance 53 is secured between the area of ​​the rolling surface 45 other than the pivot point 46 and the support surface 17 of the holder 12. A fourth vertical clearance 54 is secured between the upper surface 41 of the guided portion 41 and the lower surface of the guide groove 16. The third clearance 53 and the fourth clearance 54 allow the housing 30 to roll in the front-rear direction on the support surface 17 relative to the holder 12. The pivot point 46 is the pivot point for the tilt when the housing 30 begins to tilt its posture relative to the holder 12.

[0032] As shown in Figure 8, when the mating connector 55 attempts to enter the mating portion 32 of the housing 30 with its orientation tilted in the front-rear direction, the mating connector 55 interferes with the interference portion 37, applying a pressing force to the housing 30 in the mating direction. This pressing force generates a moment force in the housing 30 that causes it to tilt forward or backward with the pivot point 46 as the pivot point. Here, the pair of front and rear interference portions 37 to which the pressing force is applied are positioned at a distance from the pivot point 46 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the mating connector 55 presses downward on the interference portion 37 with its orientation tilted forward, the moment force generated in the housing 30 becomes a force that causes the housing 30 to tilt forward. As a result, the housing 30 tilts its orientation forward, just like the mating connector 55, allowing the mating between the mating connector 55 and the housing 30 to proceed smoothly.

[0033] The connector device 10 of this embodiment 1 comprises a housing 30 that can be mated with a mating connector 55 and a holder 12. The holder 12 has a rear wall portion 13 and a pair of left and right side wall portions 14. Guide grooves 16 are formed in the side wall portions 14, opening to the inner surface and front surface of the side wall portions 14. Protruding guided portions 40 are formed on both the left and right sides of the housing 30. The guided portions 40 are housed in the guide grooves 16 in a state that allows them to be displaced relative to the holder 12 in the front-rear direction. An elastically deformable lock arm 20 is formed inside the guide groove 16. The guided portions 40 have retaining projections 44 that, by engaging with the lock arm 20, restrict the guided portions 40 from detaching from the guide groove 16. With this configuration, since the elastically deformable lock arm 20 is housed inside the guide groove 16, there is no risk of the lock arm 20 being damaged by interference from foreign objects.

[0034] A regulating projection 42 is formed on the upper surface 41 of the guided portion 40 (the surface of the guided portion 40 facing the lock arm 20) to suppress the vertical movement of the housing 30 by contacting the lock arm 20. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the housing 30 from rattling in the vertical direction relative to the holder 12.

[0035] The housing 30 can tilt its orientation in the front-rear direction to match the inclination of the mating connector 55 in the front-rear direction. The guided portion 40 is curved to protrude downward in a side view and has a rolling surface 45 that contacts the upward support surface 17 of the guide groove 16. Between the guided portion 40 and the inner surface of the guide groove 16, there are a third clearance 53 and a fourth clearance 54 in the vertical direction that allow the guided portion 40 to tilt in the front-rear direction within the guide groove 16.

[0036] When the housing 30 tilts in the front-to-back direction to match the mating connector 55 which is tilted in the front-to-back direction, the guided portion 40 also tilts in the front-to-back direction within the guide groove 16. In order to allow the front-to-back tilt of the guided portion 40 within the guide groove 16, it is necessary to secure vertical swing-tolerance space between the upper surface 41 of the guided portion 40 and the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16. Taking this into consideration, the top 43 of the regulating projection 42 is positioned in the center of the guided portion 40 in the front-to-back direction when viewed from the side. With this arrangement, it is easy to secure vertical swing-tolerance space on both sides of the regulating projection 42 in the front-to-back direction to allow the front-to-back tilt of the guided portion 40 within the guide groove 16.

[0037] The lock arm 20 is located below the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16 (the surface in the guide groove 16 facing the restricting projection 42) (towards the guided portion 40). When the guided portion 40 is restricted from detaching from the guide groove 16 by the lock arm 20, the maximum displacement range of the restricting projection 42 (top 43) in the front-rear direction is the same as or narrower than the formation range of the lock arm 20. With this configuration, when the guided portion 40 does not detach from the guide groove 16, the vertical rattle of the housing 30 relative to the holder 12 can be suppressed regardless of the position of the housing 30 relative to the holder 12 in the front-rear direction.

[0038] The lock arm 20 has a pivot point 21 connected to the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16, and an elastically deformable movable arm portion 22 that extends cantilevered rearward from the pivot point 21. A lock projection 24 is formed at the extended end (rear end) of the movable arm portion 22. The lock projection 24 restricts the dislodgement of the guided portion 40 from the guide groove 16 by engaging a retaining projection 44 from the rear. When the retaining projection 44 is engaged with the lock projection 24, the restricting projection 42 is located within the range formed by the pivot point 21 in the front-rear direction. With this configuration, when the retaining projection 44 is engaged with the lock projection 24, the restricting projection 42 abuts against the pivot point 21 connected to the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16. The pivot point 21 does not elastically deform because it is connected to the upper surface 18 of the guide groove 16. Since the restricting projection 42 is positioned opposite the pivot point 21 which does not elastically deform, it can effectively suppress vertical displacement of the guided portion 40 by the restricting projection 42, and consequently, it can prevent the retaining projection 44 from disengaging from the locking projection 24.

[0039] [Other examples] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, but is shown in the claims. The present invention includes the meaning of equivalents of the claims and all modifications within the claims, and also includes the following embodiments.

[0040] The lock arm may be in a form that extends forward in a cantilevered manner, or it may be in a form that is supported at both the front and rear ends. The lock arm may be positioned along the lower surface of the guide groove, and the guided portion may be positioned above the lock arm. The guided portion may be configured without restrictive protrusions. • In the front-to-back direction, the position of the restricting protrusion may be off-center from the center of gravity of the housing. The maximum displacement range of the restricting projection in the longitudinal direction may be outside the lock arm formation range, either forward or backward. • When the retaining projection is engaged with the locking projection, the restricting projection may be outside the range of the pivot point in the front-rear direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] A... Floating connector G...Center of gravity H...Mounting hole P...Support member V…Plumb line 10…Connector device 11…Movable member 12…Holder 13...Rear wall part 14... Side wall section 15… Clip 16… Guide groove 17...Support surface 18…Upper surface of the guide groove (the surface facing the regulating projection in the guide groove) 19…Rear side 20... Lock Arm 21...Fulfillment point 22...Movable arm section 23... Allowable space for deflection 24... Locking protrusion 25…Bottom surface 30… Housing 31...Terminal holding part 31A... Upper surface of the terminal holding part (mating plane) 32…Matching part 33... Guiding slope 34…Front wall 35…Side wall 36…Rear wall 37... Interference section 40... Guided part 41... Upper surface of the guided portion (the surface facing the lock arm in the guided portion) 42…Restrictive protrusions 43...Top 44… Retaining projection 45... Rolling surface 46...Pivot point 51…First clearance 52…Second clearance 53…Third clearance (clearance) 54…Fourth clearance (clearance) 55...Mutual connector 56…Induction section 57…Induced surface

Claims

1. A housing that can be mated with the other connector, A holder having a rear wall and a pair of left and right side walls, Guide grooves are formed in the side wall portion, opening to the inner surface and the front surface of the side wall portion. On both the left and right sides of the housing, protruding guided portions are formed that are housed in the guide grooves so as to be able to be displaced relative to each other in the front-rear direction. An elastically deformable lock arm is formed inside the guide groove. A connector device having a retaining projection formed on the guided portion that, by engaging with the lock arm, restricts the guided portion from detaching from the guide groove.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein a restricting projection is formed on the surface of the guided portion facing the lock arm, which contacts the lock arm to suppress the vertical movement of the housing.

3. The housing can be tilted in the front-to-back direction to match the tilt of the mating connector in the front-to-back direction. The guided portion is curved to protrude downward in a side view and has a rolling surface that contacts the upward support surface of the guide groove. A vertical clearance is provided between the guided portion and the inner surface of the guide groove, which allows the guided portion to tilt in the front-rear direction within the guide groove. The connector device according to claim 2, wherein the regulating projection is located in the central part of the guided portion in the front-rear direction.

4. The lock arm is positioned on the side of the guided portion than the surface in the guide groove that faces the restricting projection, The connector device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, in a state in which the guided portion is restricted from detaching from the guide groove by the lock arm, the maximum displacement range of the restricting projection in the front-rear direction is the same as or narrower than the formation range of the lock arm.

5. The aforementioned lock arm is The pivot point portion connected to the opposing surface of the guide groove, It has an elastically deformable movable arm portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the aforementioned pivot point, A locking projection is formed at the extended end of the movable arm portion, which prevents the guided portion from detaching from the guide groove by engaging with the retaining projection. The connector device according to claim 4, wherein, when the retaining projection is engaged with the locking projection, the restricting projection is located within the range of the pivot point in the front-rear direction.

Images