connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of preventing partial fitting in a mating connector.SOLUTION: A housing 20 has a rock arm 26 for engaging with a mating connector 70. The lock arm 26 extends in an anteroposterior direction on one surface of the housing 20, may elastically deform in a direction such that the lock arm 26 can move close to the one surface of the housing 20, and has a release pressing part 31 which may be pressed to the one surface side of the housing 20. The housing 20 has a wall part 38 which protrudes from the one surface and faces the release pressing part 31 from the rear.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a housing into which a mating connector can be mated from the front. The housing has a lock arm that protrudes from one side of the housing and extends in the front-rear direction. The lock arm is elastically deformable in the up-down direction. The lock arm engages the mating connector, thereby maintaining the housing and the mating connector in a mated state. The lock arm has, at its rear end, a release pressing portion (referred to as a lock operation portion in Patent Document 1) that is pressed when the lock is released. A connector having such a lock arm is also disclosed in Patent Document 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-190298 [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-162667 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, due to miniaturization of connectors, when performing the mating operation of the housing and the mating connector, the worker's finger may unintentionally touch the release pressing portion. If the mating operation is carried out with the release pressing portion pressed by the finger, the lock arm does not return to its original elastic state when the connector is properly mated, and the locking sound of the lock arm hitting the wall of the housing cannot be confirmed. In addition, the worker cannot get a good feeling of locking. As a result, there is a concern that the worker may not notice that the housing and the mating connector are in a semi-mated state, which is not properly mated, and may stop the mating operation halfway.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of preventing a semi-mated state with a mating connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing into which a mating connector can be mated from the front, the housing having a locking arm that engages the mating connector, the locking arm extending in the front-to-rear direction on one face of the housing, being elastically deformable in a direction approaching the one face of the housing, having a release pressure portion that can be pressed against the one face side of the housing, and the housing having a wall portion that protrudes from the one face and faces the release pressure portion from behind. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of preventing a semi-mated state with a mating connector. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing in a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the housing. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the housing. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the housing and the mating connector are properly mated. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a view of the housing and the mating connector in a properly mated state, viewed from the rear side of the housing, with terminal fittings and electric wires omitted. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the housing and the mating connector in a properly mated state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A housing is provided with a mating connector that can be mated from the front, the housing has a locking arm that engages the mating connector, the locking arm extends in the front-to-rear direction on one side of the housing, is elastically deformable in a direction approaching the one side of the housing, has a release pressure portion that can be pressed against the one side of the housing, and the housing has a wall portion that protrudes from the one side and faces the release pressure portion from behind.

[0010] According to the above-described configuration, the worker can press the wall portion from behind to advance the fitting operation between the housing and the mating connector, thereby preventing the worker's fingers from touching the release pressing portion. When the housing and the mating connector are properly mated, the locking arm can elastically return to its original position to generate a locking sound. At this time, the operator can confirm the locking sound and get a good locking feeling, so that the operator can determine that the housing and the mating connector are properly mated. As a result, it is possible to prevent the housing and the mating connector from being left in a semi-mated state.

[0011] (2) It is preferable that the dimension of the wall portion protruding from the one surface be greater than the distance from the one surface to the pressing surface of the release pressing portion.

[0012] According to the above-described configuration, since the high wall portion is disposed rearward of the release pressing portion, it is possible to more reliably prevent the operator's fingers from touching the release pressing portion.

[0013] (3) The wall portion may have a width dimension in the left-right direction greater than a width dimension in the left-right direction of the release pressing portion.

[0014] According to the above configuration, since the wide wall portion is disposed rearward of the release pressing portion, it is possible to more reliably prevent the operator's fingers from touching the release pressing portion.

[0015] (4) The housing may have a finger rest surface behind the wall portion on the one surface.

[0016] According to the above configuration, the worker can press the wall portion while placing his / her fingers on the finger placement surface, which not only makes the fitting operation easy but also more reliably prevents the worker's fingers from touching the release pressing portion.

[0017] (5) The housing has a pair of side wall portions protruding from both the left and right sides of the lock arm on one surface and extending in the front-to-rear direction, and at least one of the pair of side wall portions is preferably connected to the wall portion.

[0018] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the wall portion is reinforced by the side wall portion, and the rigidity required for withstanding pressure can be secured. In particular, since the side wall portion has the function of protecting the lock arm from the sides, the structure of the connector does not become complicated, unlike the case where a dedicated reinforcing means is provided to reinforce the wall portion.

[0019] (6) Of the left and right ends of the wall portion, it is preferable that one end is connected to one of the side wall portions, and the other end is separated from the other side wall portion to form a release space between the other end and the other side wall portion.

[0020] When separating the housing from the mating connector, it is necessary to press the release pressing portion to release the locking arm. However, in the case of the present disclosure, since the wall portion faces the release pressing portion from behind, the wall portion gets in the way and makes it difficult to press the release pressing portion. In this regard, according to the above-mentioned configuration, the operator can insert his / her finger into the release space formed between the wall portion and the side wall portion to press the release pressing portion, so that the locking arm can be properly released.

[0021] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. 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.

[0022] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Fig. 6, the connector 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 20 and a terminal fitting 60. The housing 20 is adapted to be mated with a mating connector 70. In the following description, the front side is defined as the surface side of the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 that faces each other when mating begins. The up-down direction (height direction) is based on the up-down direction in each drawing except for Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. The left-right direction (width direction) is based on the left-right direction in each drawing except for Fig. 6. These directions do not necessarily coincide with the directions when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown).

[0023] (Matching connector) As shown in Fig. 6, the mating connector 70 includes a mating housing 71 and a mating terminal fitting 90. The mating housing 71 is made of synthetic resin and has a square tubular hood portion 72 that is open forward. A claw-shaped locking portion 73 is formed to protrude from the inner surface of an upper wall 75 of the hood portion 72. As shown in Fig. 4, the locking portion 73 is disposed at a left-right intermediate portion and a front-rear intermediate portion on the inner surface of the upper wall 75. As shown in Fig. 5, a pair of guide portions 74 are formed on the inner surface of the upper wall 75 on both the left and right sides of the locking portion 73. Each guide portion 74 is shaped like a rib extending in the front-rear direction.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, a concave retreat portion 76 is formed in the left-right intermediate portion of the front end of the upper wall 75. The retreat portion 76 has a rear edge portion 77 extending long in the left-right direction, and an inclined edge portion 78 tapering in width from both left and right sides of the front end of the upper wall 75 to the rear edge portion 77. As shown in Fig. 5, both left and right ends of the rear edge portion 77 and the inclined edge portion 78 are formed in the guide portion 74, and have a height dimension corresponding to the vertical thickness of the guide portion 74.

[0025] 6, a plurality of mating terminal fittings 90 protrude from inside the hood portion 72. The mating terminal fittings 90 are configured as male terminals made of conductive metal. The mating terminal fittings 90 are pin-shaped or tab-shaped, and are arranged inside the hood portion 72 along the front-rear direction.

[0026] (Housing, terminal fittings) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and has a shape that is flat in the left-right direction as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 6, the housing 20 has a plurality of cavities 21 extending in the front-rear direction. The cavities 21 are arranged in two rows, one above the other, in the housing 20 and lined up in the width direction. A lance 22 is formed to protrude from the inner wall of each cavity 21. A terminal fitting 60 is inserted into each cavity 21 from the rear. The terminal fitting 60 is engaged with the lance 22 to prevent it from coming out of the cavity 21.

[0027] The terminal fitting 60 is configured as a female terminal made of conductive metal. As shown in Fig. 6, the terminal fitting 60 has a cylindrical main body 61 and a barrel portion 62 formed rearward of the main body 61. The barrel portion 62 is crimped and connected to an end portion of the electric wire 100. The main body 61 is connected to a mating terminal fitting 90 that is inserted inside the housing 20 when the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are in a properly mated state. The electric wire 100 is drawn rearward from the housing 20.

[0028] A retainer mounting hole 24 is formed and opened on the bottom surface of the housing 20. The retainer mounting hole 24 communicates with each cavity 21 inside the housing 20, and also opens on both the left and right side surfaces of the housing 20. A retainer 50 is inserted into the retainer mounting hole 24 from below. The terminal fitting 60 is secondarily locked by the retainer 50.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, an upper surface 25 (one surface) of the housing 20 is formed flat. A lock arm 26 is formed to protrude from the upper surface 25 of the housing 20. The lock arm 26 is disposed at a left-right intermediate portion and a front-rear intermediate portion of the upper surface 25 of the housing 20. The lock arm 26 has a support portion 27 standing upright from the upper surface 25 and an extension portion 28 extending forward from the support portion 27. As shown in Fig. 3, the support portion 27 has a gate-shaped frame shape and has a pair of legs 29 standing upright with a gap between them on the left and right, and a release pressing portion 31 extending in the left-right direction to connect the upper ends of the legs 29 together.

[0030] The lock arm 26 is elastically deformable downward from its natural state toward the top surface 25 of the housing 20. Each leg 29 serves as a fulcrum when the lock arm 26 elastically deforms. As shown in FIG. 6, the front-to-rear dimension of the release pressing portion 31 is greater than the front-to-rear dimension of each leg 29. The front end of the release pressing portion 31 is located forward of the front ends of each leg 29. The upper surface of the release pressing portion 31 is configured as a pressing surface 32 that is located at the highest position of the lock arm 26. The pressing surface 32 is disposed flat in the left-right direction and is inclined upward as it goes forward.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 1, the extension portion 28 has a pair of arm portions 33 extending in pairs from each leg portion 29, and a lock body portion 34 bridged between the front ends of the arm portions 33. Each arm portion 33 is connected to the release pressing portion 31 in a stepped manner at the base portion of the rear end. When the pressing surface 32 of the release pressing portion 31 is pressed, the lock arm 26 is elastically deformed such that each arm portion 33 is inclined downward toward the front. As shown in Fig. 3, the lock body portion 34 is located below the release pressing portion 31.

[0032] 1, a pair of side walls 35, 36 are formed on the top surface 25 of the housing 20 on both the left and right sides of the lock arm 26. Each side wall 35, 36 stands up from the top surface 25 of the housing 20, has a plate wall shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is disposed with its wall surface facing in the left-right direction. Each side wall 35, 36 extends rearward from the front end of the top surface 25 of the housing 20, and is disposed so as to cover the lock arm 26 from both the left and right sides.

[0033] Of the side walls 35, 36, one side wall 35 is formed with a larger front-to-rear dimension than the other side wall 36. The rear end of one side wall 35 is located rearward of the rear end of the lock arm 26, more specifically, rearward of the release pressing portion 31. The rear end of the other side wall 36 is located forward of the rear end of the lock arm 26, more specifically, forward of the release pressing portion 31.

[0034] End walls 37 having a plate wall shape similar to the side walls 35, 36 are formed at both left and right ends of the upper surface 25 of the housing 20. Each end wall 37 extends over the entire length in the front-rear direction on the upper surface 25 of the housing 20, and is arranged parallel to each side wall 35, 36. When the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are in a mated state, a guide portion 74 of the mating housing 71 is fitted between the end wall 37 and the side walls 35, 36 (the side walls 35, 36 are not shown, but see FIG. 5).

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, a wall portion 38 is formed on the upper surface 25 of the housing 20, facing the rear end portion (release pressing portion 31, etc.) of the lock arm 26 from the rear. The wall portion 38 is disposed at a position on the upper surface 25 of the housing 20 rearward of the lock arm 26 and forward of the rear end of the housing 20. The wall portion 38 is in the form of a plate wall rising from the upper surface 25 of the housing 20, and disposed so as to extend in the left-right direction while facing the wall surface in the front-rear direction. Of the left and right ends of the wall portion 38, one end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 1 and the left end portion in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) is connected to the rear end of one of the side walls 35. Of the left and right ends of the wall portion 38, the other end portion (the left end portion in FIG. 1 and the right end portion in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) is disposed rearward of the other side wall portion 36, and forms a release space 39 between the other side wall portion 36 and the wall portion 38. The front-rear opening width of the release space 39 is set to be larger than the front-rear dimension of the release pressing portion 31 and large enough to allow the entry of the operator's fingers.

[0036] In the case of the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the front-to-rear thickness of the wall portion 38 is greater than the front-to-rear thickness of each of the side walls 35, 36. The left-to-right dimension of the wall portion 38 is greater than the left-to-right dimension of the release pressing portion 31. The wall portion 38 is formed to a size that covers the entire release pressing portion 31 from the rear. The release pressing portion 31 is hidden by the wall portion 38 and cannot be seen when viewed from the rear of the housing 20 (see Fig. 5).

[0037] The upper end of the wall portion 38 is formed to be continuous in the left-right direction, and is located above the pressing surface 32 of the release pressing portion 31, as shown in Fig. 6. In other words, the height dimension of the wall portion 38 is set to be greater than the distance from the upper surface 25 of the housing 20 to the front end of the pressing surface 32. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the side wall portion 35 has a portion that slopes upward toward the upper end of the wall portion 38 on the side of the release pressing portion 31.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 5, a through hole 41 is formed in the left-right intermediate portion of the wall portion 38. The through hole 41 is formed as a result of the extraction of the mold that molds the lock main body portion 34, and is formed in a form that penetrates the left-right intermediate portion of the wall portion 38 in the front-rear direction. The lock main body portion 34 is visible through the through hole 41 when viewed from the rear of the housing 20. In the wall portion 38, a beam portion 42 along the left-right direction that defines the upper end of the through hole 41 has a vertical thickness that is larger than the vertical thickness of the release pressing portion 31, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0039] 2, a finger rest surface 43 is formed between the rear end of the top surface 25 of the housing 20 and the wall portion 38. The finger rest surface 43 is a flat surface that is connected without any steps to the surrounding areas of the top surface 25 of the housing 20, and is not machined into a special shape. The finger rest surface 43 has a size (front-to-back dimensions and left-to-right dimensions) behind the wall portion 38 that allows the operator to place his or her fingers thereon.

[0040] (Connector Function) When the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are mated, the housing 20 is inserted shallowly into the hood portion 72. Next, a part of the operator's finger, for example, the side of the thumb, is placed on the finger placement surface 43, and another part of the finger, for example, the pad of the thumb, is placed on the rear surface of the wall portion 38. In this state, the wall portion 38 is pressed forward. Then, the housing 20 is inserted deeply into the hood portion 72.

[0041] During the process of fitting the housing 20 and the mating connector 70, the lock main body 34 interferes with the lock portion 73, and the lock arm 26 is elastically deformed downward. During this time, the operator's finger maintains a state of pressing the wall portion 38, so that the release pressing portion 31 is prevented from being pressed by the finger and being inadvertently elastically deformed. Also, the guide portion 74 enters between the end wall portion 37 and the side wall portions 35, 36 in the fitted state, and the fitting of the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 is guided.

[0042] When the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are properly mated, the lock arm 26 elastically returns to its original position, and the lock main body 34 is disposed so as to be able to engage with the lock portion 73. This maintains the mated state between the housing 20 and the mating connector 70. As the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are properly mated, the lock main body 34 strikes the inner surface of the upper wall 75 of the hood portion 72 while being biased by the elastic reaction force of the lock arm 26, generating a locking sound (impact sound) such as a "click" or a "snap". By hearing this locking sound and further by the good locking feeling received from the touch, the worker can confirm that the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are properly mated.

[0043] 4, in a state in which the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are properly fitted together, the release pressing portion 31 is disposed inside the retracted portion 76 of the hood portion 72. At this time, the front end of the release pressing portion 31 is disposed along the inner edge portion 77 of the retracted portion 76. In addition, the release pressing portion 31 is disposed opposite the inclined edge portion 78 with the release space 39 interposed therebetween.

[0044] When the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 in the fitted state are to be separated due to reasons such as maintenance, the pressing surface 32 of the release pressing portion 31 is pressed from above with the finger of an operator. In the case of the first embodiment, a finger can be inserted into the release space 39, so that the pressing surface 32 of the release pressing portion 31 can be elastically deformed without hindrance. When the release pressing portion 31 is pressed, the lock arm 26 is elastically deformed downward, and the lock main body 34 and the lock portion 73 are released from the engagement. In this state, the housing 20 can be pulled away from the mating connector 70, and the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 can be separated.

[0045] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the worker can press the wall portion 38 from behind to proceed with the fitting operation between the housing 20 and the mating connector 70, making it difficult for the worker's fingers to touch the release pressing portion 31, and thus preventing the release pressing portion 31 from being pressed during the fitting process and causing the lock arm 26 to inadvertently elastically deform. As a result, when the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 are properly fitted together, a locking sound can be generated with the lock arm 26 in a free state, and it is possible to prevent the housing 20 and the mating connector 70 from being left in a semi-fitted state.

[0046] In particular, since the protruding dimension from the top surface 25 of the housing 20 to the upper end of the wall portion 38 is greater than the distance from the top surface 25 of the housing 20 to the pressing surface 32 of the release pressing portion 31, and the left-right dimension of the wall portion 38 is greater than the left-right dimension of the release pressing portion 31, it is possible to more reliably prevent the operator's fingers from touching the release pressing portion 31.

[0047] In addition, a finger rest surface 43 is formed on the upper surface 25 of the housing 20 behind the wall portion 38, and a finger can be placed on the finger rest surface 43, making it possible to easily perform the fitting operation and more reliably prevent the finger from touching the release pressing portion 31.

[0048] Furthermore, the rear end of one side wall portion 35 is connected to wall portion 38 and wall portion 38 is reinforced by side wall portion 35, so that wall portion 38 can have the rigidity to withstand pressure. Moreover, since side wall portion 35 has the function of protecting lock arm 26 from the sides, the structure of connector 10 does not become complicated, unlike the case where a dedicated reinforcing means is provided to reinforce wall portion 38.

[0049] Furthermore, since the rear end of the other side wall 36 is disposed away from the wall 38 and a release space 39 is formed between the side wall 36 and the wall 38, when separating the housing 20 from the mating connector 70, the operator can insert his / her finger into the release space 39 and press the release pressing portion 31. As a result, the engagement between the lock main body 34 and the lock portion 73 can be properly released.

[0050] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The above-described first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, one of the side walls is connected to the wall. However, according to another embodiment, each of the side walls may be arranged apart from the wall and may form a release space between the wall and the side wall. Alternatively, each of the side walls may be connected to the wall. In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the lock arm is connected to the upper surface of the housing by a support portion. However, in another embodiment, the lock arm may not be connected to the upper surface of the housing, but may be connected to each side wall portion by a support portion that protrudes to the left and right. In the first embodiment, the extension of the lock arm extends forward from the support portion. However, in another embodiment, the extension of the lock arm may extend rearward from the support portion. In the first embodiment, the release pressing portion is formed at the rear end of the lock arm. However, in another embodiment, the release pressing portion may be formed at the midpoint between the front and rear of the lock arm (the front and rear intermediate portion). [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10…Connector 20. Housing 21…Cavity 22…Lance 24…Retainer mounting hole 25...Top surface (one side of the housing) 26...Lock arm 27...Support part 28...Extension part 29...legs 31...Release pressing part 32...Pressing surface 33…Arm section 34…Lock body 35...Side wall portion (one side wall portion) 36...Side wall portion (the other side wall portion) 37...End wall 38…Wall part 39…Release space 41...Through hole 42...Beam part 43…Finger rest surface 50…Retainer 60...Terminal fitting 61...Main body 62…Barrel section 70…Mating connector 71…Matching housing 72…Hood section 73…Rock Club 74…Guide section 75...Top wall (top wall of hood section) 76…Evacuation area 77…Rear edge 78...Beveled edge 90...Mating terminal fitting 100...Electric wire

Claims

1. The mating connector has a housing that can be fitted from the front, The housing has a lock arm for locking the mating connector, the lock arm extends in a front-rear direction on one surface of the housing, is elastically deformable in a direction approaching the one surface of the housing, and has a release pressing portion that can be pressed against the one surface of the housing, The housing has a wall portion protruding from the one surface and facing the release pressing portion from behind, and has a finger placement surface behind the wall portion on the one surface.

2. The mating connector has a housing that can be fitted from the front, The housing has a lock arm for locking the mating connector, the lock arm extends in a front-rear direction on one surface of the housing, is elastically deformable in a direction approaching the one surface of the housing, and has a release pressing portion that can be pressed against the one surface of the housing, the housing has a wall portion that protrudes from the one surface and faces the release pressing portion from behind, and a pair of side wall portions that protrude from both left and right sides of the one surface with the lock arm interposed therebetween and extend in the front-rear direction, At least one of the pair of side wall portions is connected to the wall portion, A connector, wherein one end of each of the left and right ends of the wall portion is connected to one of the side wall portions, and the other end is separated from the other of the side wall portions to form a release space between the other end and the other end.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a protruding dimension of said wall portion from said one surface is greater than a distance from said one surface to a pressing surface of said release pressing portion.

4. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein a width dimension in the left-right direction of the wall portion is larger than a width dimension in the left-right direction of the release pressing portion.

5. The housing has a pair of side wall portions protruding from both left and right sides of the one surface with respect to the lock arm and extending in the front-rear direction, The connector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of side walls is connected to the wall portion.

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