connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of stably holding a terminal in a housing.SOLUTION: In a connector 1 comprising a housing 3 and a spacer 7, the spacer 7 is assembled to the housing 3 so as to move between a temporary locking position and a main locking position. Between the housing 3 and the spacer 7, a temporary locking portion 25 holding the spacer 7 at the temporary locking position, and a main locking portion 27 holding the spacer 7 at the main locking position are provided. The main locking portion 27 has a main locked projection 35 provided in the housing 3, and a main locking projection 37 provided on the spacer 7 and capable of engaging with the main locked projection 35. The main locked projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 are disposed separately at the temporary locking position of the spacer 7. Between the housing 3 and the spacer 7, a guiding portion 41 is provided, which moves the spacer 7 and engages the main locked projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 when the spacer 7 moves from the temporary locking position toward the main locking position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a connector has been known that includes a housing, terminals accommodated in the housing, and a retainer that is assembled to the housing and acts as a spacer that engages with the terminals to hold the terminals in the housing (see Patent Document 1). The retainer is assembled to the housing so as to be movable between a provisional locking position that allows the terminals to be inserted into the housing, and a full locking position that engages with the terminals accommodated in the housing.

[0003] A temporary locking projection and a locking step are provided between the housing and the retainer as a temporary locking portion that holds the retainer in the temporary locking position, and a full locking projection and a locking step are provided between the housing and the retainer as a full locking portion that holds the retainer in the full locking position.

[0004] The retainer is held in the temporary locking position relative to the housing by the engagement between the temporary locking projection and the locking step and the abutment between the full locking projection and the locking step. When the retainer moves from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the full locking projection slides over the locking step and overcomes the locking step, thereby engaging the full locking projection with the locking step. The engagement between the full locking projection and the locking step holds the retainer in the full locking position relative to the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-75507 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, in a connector such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the locking step portion serving as the main locking protrusion provided on the housing and the main locking protrusion serving as the main locking protrusion provided on the spacer are each formed as protrusions that protrude outward.

[0007] The fully-locked projection and the fully-locked projection are always in contact with each other while the spacer moves between the provisionally-locked position and the fully-locked position. Therefore, when an operating force is applied to move the spacer, a load due to the operating force is always applied between the fully-locked projection and the fully-locked projection. In addition, when an external force is applied to the spacer while the spacer is held in the provisionally-locked position, the load due to the external force is applied to the fully-locked projection and the fully-locked projection.

[0008] If the load is applied to the main locking projection and the main locking projection frequently, the main locking projection and the main locking projection may be damaged. If the main locking projection and the main locking projection are damaged, the retention of the terminal in the housing may become unstable.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the conventional art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of stably holding terminals in a housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The connector of this embodiment comprises a housing, and a spacer assembled to the housing and engaging with a terminal accommodated in the housing to hold the terminal in the housing, the spacer being assembled to the housing so as to be movable between a temporary locking position, which allows the terminal to be inserted into the housing, and a full locking position, in which the spacer engages with the terminal accommodated in the housing, and between the housing and the spacer are provided a temporary locking portion which holds the spacer in the temporary locking position, and a full locking portion which holds the spacer in the full locking position, the full locking portion having a to-be-locked projection arranged on the housing and a full locking projection arranged on the spacer and capable of engaging with the to-be-locked projection, the to-be-locked projection and the full locking projection being positioned at a distance from each other at the temporary locking position of the spacer, and between the housing and the spacer is provided a guide portion which moves the spacer and engages the to-be-locked projection and the full locking projection when the spacer is moved from the temporary locking position toward the full locking position.

[0011] The guide portion preferably has a guide surface that slides to move the spacer as the spacer moves from the provisional locking position to the final locking position.

[0012] The guide portion preferably has an elastic arm that is elastically deformed by movement of the spacer from the provisionally-retained position toward the fully-retained position and that moves the spacer by recovering from the elastic deformation.

[0013] It is preferable that the final locking projection is provided on an elastically deformable final locking arm, and the spacer is provided with a deformation restricting portion for restricting excessive deformation of the final locking arm.

[0014] It is preferable that an auxiliary locking portion is provided between the housing and the spacer, which is engaged with the spacer as the spacer is moved by the guide portion and holds the spacer in a main locking position.

[0015] It is preferable that the auxiliary locking portion is provided with an auxiliary guide portion which moves the spacer and engages the to-be-locked projection with the main locking projection when the spacer is moved from the provisional locking position toward the main locking position. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector capable of stably holding terminals in a housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment when the spacer is placed in a temporary locking position. FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment when the spacer is placed in a full locking position. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment when the spacer is placed in a temporary locking position. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the spacer is moving from a partial locking position to a full locking position. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment when the spacer is placed in a full locking position. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the second embodiment when the spacer is placed in the temporary locking position. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a spacer of a connector according to a second embodiment, the spacer being in the middle of moving from a partial locking position to a full locking position. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the second embodiment when the spacer is placed in a full locking position. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, the connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0019] (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG.

[0020] 1 to 6, a connector 1 according to this embodiment is capable of being mated with a mating connector (not shown). The connector 1 includes a housing 3 and a spacer 7. A terminal 5 is accommodated inside the housing 3.

[0021] The housing 3 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 3 is formed in a case shape extending in the fitting direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector. A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 9 capable of accommodating terminals 5 are provided inside the housing 3.

[0022] The terminal accommodating chamber 9 extends in the fitting direction between the connector 1 and the mating connector. A locking lance 11 is provided in the terminal accommodating chamber 9 in an elastically deformable manner. The locking lance 11 engages with the terminal 5 to prevent the terminal 5 from coming out of the terminal accommodating chamber 9, and holds the terminal 5 in the terminal accommodating chamber 9.

[0023] The terminal 5 is made of a conductive material. The terminal 5 is, for example, a female terminal having a box-shaped connecting portion extending along the fitting direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector. The terminal 5 is electrically connected to an end portion of the electric wire 13 drawn out of the terminal accommodating chamber 9. The electric wire 13 is electrically connected to, for example, a power source, an apparatus, etc. The terminal 5 is electrically connected to the end portion of the electric wire 13 by crimping through the crimping of the crimping piece of the terminal 5.

[0024] The terminal 5 electrically connected to the electric wire 13 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 9 from an opening in the housing 3 through which the electric wire 13 is pulled out. The terminal 5 inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 9 slides against the locking lance 11, causing the locking lance 11 to elastically deform downward, and is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 9. The locking lance 11, which has recovered from the elastic deformation, engages with the terminal 5 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 9, and the terminal 5 is held in the terminal accommodating chamber 9.

[0025] When the connector 1 and the mating connector are mated with each other, the housing 3, in which the terminals 5 are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 9, electrically connects the mating terminals (not shown) accommodated in the mating connector to the terminals 5. The housing 3 is provided with a spacer accommodating portion 15 in which a spacer 7 is assembled. The spacer accommodating portion 15 has an opening on the lower surface side and communicates with the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 9. The spacer 7 is assembled into the spacer accommodating portion 15 through the opening.

[0026] The spacer 7 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and includes a main body 17 arranged in the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 9, and side walls 19, 19 formed integrally on both sides of the main body 17.

[0027] The main body 17 is provided with a plurality of holes 21 penetrating in the direction in which the terminals 5 are inserted into the housing 3. The upper surface of the main body 17 and the lower surfaces of the holes 21 are provided with terminal locking portions 23 engageable with the terminals 5.

[0028] 2, the multiple holes 21 and the upper surface of the main body 17 coincide with the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 9 and the lower surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers 9 when the spacer 7 is held in the temporary-locking position in the spacer accommodating portion 15. Therefore, when the spacer 7 is in the temporary-locking position, the terminals 5 can be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 9.

[0029] 3, when the spacer 7 moves from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the terminal locking portion 23 engages with the terminal 5. By the terminal locking portion 23 engaging with the terminal 5, together with the locking lance 11, the terminal 5 can be doubly prevented from falling out of the terminal accommodating chamber 9. Therefore, the terminal 5 can be stably held in the terminal accommodating chamber 9.

[0030] In this manner, the spacer 7 is assembled in the spacer accommodating portion 15 of the housing 3 so as to be movable between the temporary locking position and the full locking position. The spacer 7 is held at the temporary locking position and the full locking position by a temporary locking portion 25 and a full locking portion 27 provided between the side walls 19, 19 of the spacer 7 and the spacer accommodating portion 15. The temporary locking portion 25 and the full locking portion 27 are provided on both sides of the side walls 19, 19 of the spacer 7. Note that the temporary locking portions 25, 25 and the full locking portions 27, 27 are provided symmetrically, so in the following, one of the temporary locking portions 25 and the full locking portion 27 will be described, and a description of the other of the temporary locking portion 25 and the full locking portion 27 will be omitted.

[0031] 4 to 6, the temporary locking portion 25 includes a temporary locking projection 29 and a temporary locking projection 31. The temporary locking projection 29 is formed in the spacer accommodating portion 15 of the housing 3, protruding from the inner wall surface of the housing 3 toward the inside of the spacer accommodating portion 15. The lower side of the temporary locking projection 29 is formed as an inclined surface that can slide against the temporary locking projection 31. The upper side of the temporary locking projection 29 is a locking surface formed as a horizontal surface that can engage with the temporary locking projection 31.

[0032] The temporary-locking projection 31 is formed on the free end side of a temporary-locking arm 33 as an elastic arm provided on the side wall 19 of the spacer 7 so as to be elastically deformable, and protrudes toward the temporarily-locked projection 29. The upper side of the temporary-locking projection 31 is formed of an inclined surface that can slide against the inclined surface of the temporarily-locked projection 29. The lower side of the temporary-locking projection 31 is a locking surface formed of a horizontal surface that can engage with the locking surface of the temporarily-locked projection 29.

[0033] When the spacer 7 is inserted into the spacer accommodating portion 15, the inclined surface of the provisionally locked projection 29 and the inclined surface of the provisionally locked projection 31 slide against each other, causing the provisionally locked arm 33 to elastically deform. As shown in Fig. 4, when the spacer 7 is placed at the provisionally locked position in the spacer accommodating portion 15, the provisionally locked arm 33 is restored from its elastic deformation, and the locking surface of the provisionally locked projection 29 engages with the locking surface of the provisionally locked projection 31. The engagement between the provisionally locked projection 29 and the provisionally locked projection 31 restricts the movement of the spacer 7 in the direction of removal from the spacer accommodating portion 15.

[0034] Although not shown, the temporary locking portion 25 includes a restricting portion that restricts movement of the spacer 7 in the insertion direction into the spacer accommodating portion 15 when the spacer 7 is placed at the temporary locking position of the spacer accommodating portion 15. The restricting portion is set so that the engagement is released by strongly pressing the spacer 7 toward the inside of the spacer accommodating portion 15. Therefore, the restricting portion can prevent the spacer 7 from moving to the full locking position when an unexpected external force is applied to the spacer 7 at the temporary locking position. Such temporary locking portion 25 can stably hold the spacer 7 at the temporary locking position relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15.

[0035] The final locking portion 27 includes a final locking projection 35 and a final locking projection 37. The final locking projection 35 is formed in the spacer accommodating portion 15 of the housing 3, protruding from an inner wall surface of the housing 3 located forward of the provisionally locked projection 29 in the insertion direction of the spacer 7 toward the inside of the spacer accommodating portion 15. The lower side of the final locking projection 35 is formed as an inclined surface. The upper side of the final locking projection 35 is a locking surface formed as a horizontal surface that can engage with the final locking projection 37.

[0036] The main locking projection 37 is formed on the free end of a main locking arm 39 that is elastically deformably provided on the side wall 19 of the spacer 7, and protrudes toward the main locking projection 35. The upper side of the main locking projection 37 is formed as an inclined surface. The lower side of the main locking projection 37 is a locking surface formed as a horizontal surface that can engage with the locking surface of the main locking projection 35.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, in the final locking portion 27, the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 are arranged apart from each other at the temporary locking position of the spacer 7 relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15. Therefore, as shown by the arrow, when the spacer 7 moves from the temporary locking position to the main locking position, the load due to the operating force initially applied to the spacer 7 is not applied to the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37. In addition, even if an external force is applied to the spacer 7 held at the temporary locking position, the load due to the external force is not applied to the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37. Therefore, the chance of a load being applied to the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 can be reduced, and damage to the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 can be suppressed.

[0038] 5, when the spacer 7 is moved from the provisionally locked position to the provisionally locked position with respect to the spacer accommodating section 15, the spacer 7 is moved by the guide section 41 as shown by the arrow, and the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 come into contact with each other. When the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 come into contact with each other and the spacer 7 is moved by the guide section 41, the fully locked arm 39 elastically deforms as shown by the imaginary line, and the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 slide against each other. At this time, in the provisionally locked section 25, the engagement between the provisionally locked projection 29 and the provisionally locked projection 31 is released. In addition, the engagement of the above-mentioned restricting section (not shown) is also released.

[0039] 6, when the sliding of the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 of the main locking portion 27 is completed, the spacer 7 is moved as shown by the arrow, and the spacer 7 is disposed at the main locking position of the spacer accommodating portion 15. When the spacer 7 is disposed at the main locking position of the spacer accommodating portion 15, the main locking arm 39 is restored from its elastic deformation, and the locking surface of the main locking projection 35 and the locking surface of the main locking projection 37 are engaged. Due to the engagement between the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37, the movement of the spacer 7 in the direction of removal from the spacer accommodating portion 15 is restricted.

[0040] The guide portion 41 has a first inclined surface 43 as a guide surface and a second inclined surface 45 as a guide surface. The first inclined surface 43 is provided on an inner wall surface of the housing 3 located between the provisionally locked projection 29 and the opening of the spacer accommodating portion 15 in the spacer accommodating portion 15 of the housing 3. The first inclined surface 43 is an inclined surface that slopes upward from the end on the provisionally locked projection 29 side to the end on the fully locked projection 35 side.

[0041] The second inclined surface 45 is provided on the outer wall surface of the side wall 19 of the spacer 7, located between the temporary-locking projection 31 and the lower end of the side wall 19. The second inclined surface 45 is an inclined surface that slopes upward from the end on the temporary-locking projection 31 side to the end on the full-locking projection 37 side.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 4, the guide portion 41 is arranged such that the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45 are spaced apart from each other when the spacer 7 is in the temporary locking position relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15. As shown in Fig. 5, when the spacer 7 is moved from the temporary locking position to the full locking position relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15, the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45 slide against each other. When the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45 slide against each other, the spacer 7 moves along the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45 as shown by the arrow, and the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 come into contact with each other at the full locking portion 27.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, when the spacer 7 is moved in the insertion direction of the spacer accommodating section 15 as indicated by the arrow, and the spacer 7 is placed at the full locking position of the spacer accommodating section 15, the sliding between the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45 of the guiding section 41 ends. At this time, the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 are engaged with each other in the fully locked section 27. Such a guiding section 41 allows the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37, which have been separated at the provisionally locked position of the spacer 7, to be engaged with each other at the fully locked position of the spacer 7. The guiding section 41 includes the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45, but it is sufficient to include at least one of the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45.

[0044] Here, an auxiliary locking portion 47 that holds the spacer 7 in the main locking position is provided between the housing 3 and the spacer 7. The auxiliary locking portion 47 includes an auxiliary recess 49 and an auxiliary protrusion 51. The auxiliary recess 49 is formed in the inner wall surface of the housing 3 on the opening side of the spacer accommodating portion 15 on the main locking projection 35 side in the spacer accommodating portion 15 of the housing 3. The auxiliary protrusion 51 is formed in the side wall 19 of the spacer 7 so as to protrude from the outer wall surface on the lower end side of the side wall 19 on the main locking projection 37 side so as to be able to engage with the auxiliary recess 49.

[0045] 4, when the spacer 7 is in the provisionally locked position relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15, the auxiliary locking portion 47 is disposed such that the auxiliary protrusion 51 abuts against the opening edge of the spacer accommodating portion 15. Therefore, when in the provisionally locked position, the spacer 7 is restricted from moving toward the main locked protrusion 35.

[0046] 6, when the spacer 7 is moved by the guide portion 41 and placed in the full locking position of the spacer accommodating portion 15, the auxiliary recess 49 and the auxiliary protrusion 51 are engaged with each other in the auxiliary locking portion 47. The engagement between the auxiliary recess 49 and the auxiliary protrusion 51 restricts the movement of the spacer 7 in the insertion / removal direction relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15. Such an auxiliary locking portion 47 makes it possible to hold the spacer 7 in the full locking position with respect to the spacer accommodating portion 15 even more stably.

[0047] Here, an auxiliary guide portion 53 is provided in the auxiliary recess 49 of the auxiliary locking portion 47. The auxiliary guide portion 53 is provided on the inner wall surface on the opening side of the spacer accommodating portion 15 inside the auxiliary recess 49. The auxiliary guide portion 53 has an inclined surface that slopes upward from the end portion on the temporary locking projection 29 side to the end portion on the final locking projection 35 side.

[0048] 5, when the spacer 7 is moved from the temporary locking position to the full locking position with respect to the spacer accommodating portion 15, the auxiliary guide portion 53 slides against the auxiliary protrusion 51 as shown by the imaginary line. When the auxiliary guide portion 53 slides against the auxiliary protrusion 51, the spacer 7 moves along the auxiliary guide portion 53.

[0049] 6, when the spacer 7 is placed in the final locking position of the spacer accommodating portion 15, the auxiliary guiding portion 53 stops sliding with the auxiliary protrusion 51, and the auxiliary recess 49 engages with the auxiliary protrusion 51. When the auxiliary recess 49 engages with the auxiliary protrusion 51, the main locking projection 35 engages with the main locking projection 37 in the main locking portion 27. Such an auxiliary guiding portion 53 allows the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 to stably engage with each other at the main locking position of the spacer 7 in the main locking portion 27.

[0050] Here, the spacer 7 is provided with an elastically deformable temporary-locking arm 33 and a full-locking arm 39. An external force may be applied to the temporary-locking arm 33 and the full-locking arm 39, for example, when the spacer 7 is handled alone. When an external force is applied to the temporary-locking arm 33 and the full-locking arm 39, they may be excessively deformed, possibly resulting in plastic deformation or breakage.

[0051] 4 to 6, the spacer 7 is provided with a deformation restricting portion 55 for restricting excessive deformation of the temporary-locking arm 33 and the full-locking arm 39. The deformation restricting portion 55 is formed on the side wall 19 of the spacer 7, extending from an outer wall surface located between the temporary-locking arm 33 and the full-locking arm 39 in the same direction as the extension direction of the temporary-locking arm 33 and the full-locking arm 39.

[0052] When the temporary-locking arm 33 or the full-locking arm 39 is about to be deformed excessively, the deformation restricting portion 55 comes into contact with the temporary-locking arm 33 or the full-locking arm 39 to restrict further deformation. Such deformation restricting portion 55 prevents the temporary-locking arm 33 and the full-locking arm 39 from being deformed excessively, suppresses plastic deformation and breakage, and enables stable elastic deformation.

[0053] In such connector 1, in the final locking portion 27, the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 are arranged to be spaced apart at the temporary locking position of the spacer 7. In addition, between the housing 3 and the spacer 7, there is provided a guide portion 41 that moves the spacer 7 and engages the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 when the spacer 7 is moved from the temporary locking position toward the final locking position.

[0054] Therefore, when the spacer 7 moves from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the load due to the operating force initially applied to the spacer 7 is not applied to the fully locked projections 35 and the full locking projections 37. In addition, even if an external force is applied to the spacer 7 held in the temporary locking position, the load due to the external force is not applied to the fully locked projections 35 and the full locking projections 37.

[0055] In the full-locking portion 27, the fully-locked projection 35 and the fully-locked projection 37, which are separated at the provisional locking position of the spacer 7, can be engaged at the full-locking position of the spacer 7 by moving the spacer 7 by the guide portion 41. Therefore, the terminal 5 can be held in the housing 3 by the spacer 7.

[0056] Therefore, in such a connector 1, the opportunity for load to be applied to the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 is reduced, damage to the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 is suppressed, and the terminal 5 can be stably held in the housing 3.

[0057] Furthermore, the guide portion 41 has a first inclined surface 43 and a second inclined surface 45 as guide surfaces that slide to move the spacer 7 as the spacer 7 moves from the provisional locking position to the final locking position. Therefore, the spacer 7 can be moved along the shapes of the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45, and the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 can be stably engaged with each other.

[0058] Furthermore, the spacer 7 is provided with a deformation restriction portion 55 that restricts excessive deformation of the main locking arm 39. This prevents the main locking arm 39 from being excessively deformed, suppresses plastic deformation and breakage, and allows stable elastic deformation.

[0059] In addition, an auxiliary locking portion 47 is provided between the housing 3 and the spacer 7, which is engaged with the spacer 7 by the movement of the spacer 7 by the guide portion 41 and holds the spacer 7 at the main locking position. Therefore, the spacer 7 can be stably held at the main locking position.

[0060] Furthermore, the auxiliary locking portion 47 is provided with an auxiliary guide portion 53 that moves the spacer 7 when the spacer 7 is moved from the provisional locking position toward the full locking position, and engages the main locking projection 35 with the main locking projection 37. This allows the main locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 to be stably engaged with each other.

[0061] Second embodiment The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0062] The connector 101 of this embodiment has a provisional locking arm 33 as an elastic arm in which the guide portion 41 is elastically deformed by the movement of the spacer 7 from the provisional locking position toward the full locking position, and which moves the spacer 7 by recovering from the elastic deformation.

[0063] Note that the same symbols are used for configurations similar to those in the first embodiment, and explanations of the configurations and functions will be omitted and refer to the first embodiment; however, since the configuration is the same as the first embodiment, the effects obtained are the same.

[0064] 7 to 9, the guide portion 41 includes the temporary-locking arm 33, a third inclined surface 103 as a guide surface, and a fourth inclined surface 105 as a guide surface. The third inclined surface 103 is provided on an inner wall surface of the housing 3 located below the temporary-locked projection 29 in the spacer accommodating portion 15 of the housing 3. The third inclined surface 103 is an inclined surface that slopes upward from the end on the temporary-locked projection 29 side to the end on the final-locked projection 35 side.

[0065] The fourth inclined surface 105 is provided on an inner wall surface located on the lower side of the inside of an arm recess 107 provided on the side wall 19 of the spacer 7 below the temporary-locking projection 31 of the temporary-locking arm 33. The temporarily-locked projection 29 engages with the arm recess 107 when the spacer 7 is in the temporary locking position relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15. The fourth inclined surface 105 is an inclined surface that slopes upward from the end on the temporary-locking projection 31 side to the end on the full-locking projection 37 side.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 7, in the guide portion 41, when the spacer 7 is in the temporary locking position relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15, the temporarily locked projection 29 engages with the arm recess 107, and the third inclined surface 103 and the fourth inclined surface 105 are arranged opposite to each other. As shown in FIG. 8, when the spacer 7 is moved from the temporary locking position to the full locking position relative to the spacer accommodating portion 15, the third inclined surface 103 and the fourth inclined surface 105 slide against each other. When the third inclined surface 103 and the fourth inclined surface 105 slide against each other, the spacer 7 moves along the third inclined surface 103 and the fourth inclined surface 105. Therefore, the third inclined surface 103 and the fourth inclined surface 105 have the same function as the first inclined surface 43 and the second inclined surface 45 in the first embodiment.

[0067] When the spacer 7 moves along the third inclined surface 103 and the fourth inclined surface 105, the temporary-locking arm 33 elastically deforms toward the full-locking projection 37. At this time, the fully-locked projection 35 and the full-locking projection 37 come into contact with each other at the full-locking portion 27. Note that excessive elastic deformation of the temporary-locking arm 33 is restricted by the deformation restricting portion 55.

[0068] 9, when the spacer 7 is placed in the full locking position of the spacer accommodating section 15, the sliding between the third inclined surface 103 and the fourth inclined surface 105 of the guiding section 41 ends, and the temporary locking arm 33 is restored from its elastic deformation. When the temporary locking arm 33 is restored from its elastic deformation, the spacer 7 is pressed toward the fully locked projection 35 by the restoring force of the temporary locking arm 33, and the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37 are engaged with each other in the fully locked section 27. With this guiding section 41, the fully locked projection 35 and the fully locked projection 37, which were separated from each other in the temporary locking position of the spacer 7, can be engaged with each other in the fully locked position of the spacer 7 in the fully locked section 27.

[0069] In such connector 101, guide portion 41 has temporary-locking arm 33 as an elastic arm that is elastically deformed by movement of spacer 7 from the temporary-locking position to the full-locking position and moves spacer 7 by recovering from the elastic deformation. Therefore, spacer 7 can be moved by the elastic deformation force of temporary-locking arm 33, and to-be-fully-locked projection 35 and full-locking projection 37 can be stably engaged with each other.

[0070] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0071] For example, the provisional locking arm is elastically deformable, but may not be elastically deformable. In this case, it is preferable to provide a guide portion that moves the spacer and engages the provisionally locked projection with the provisionally locked projection when the spacer is inserted into the spacer receiving portion and placed at the provisional locking position. In addition, by making the provisional locking arm not elastically deformable, the rigidity of the spacer can be increased and damage to the spacer can be suppressed.

[0072] In addition, although the guide surface is an inclined surface, the guide surface is not limited to this and may have any shape, such as a curved surface, as long as the guide surface has a shape that allows the spacer to be moved and the engaged projection and the provisionally engaged projection to engage with each other when the spacer is in the fully engaged position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1,101 Connectors 3. Housing 5 Terminal 7 Spacer 25 Temporary locking part 27 Main locking part 33 Temporary locking arm (elastic arm) 35 Book locking protrusion 37 locking protrusions 39 Locking Arm 41 Guidance part 43 1st inclined surface (guiding surface) 45 2nd inclined surface (guiding surface) 47 Auxiliary locking part 53 Auxiliary guidance section 55 Deformation Control Section 101 Connector 103 Third slope (guiding surface) 105 4th slope (guiding surface)

Claims

1. Housing and a spacer that is assembled to the housing and engages with a terminal accommodated in the housing to hold the terminal in the housing; Equipped with the spacer is assembled to the housing so as to be movable between a provisional locking position at which the terminal can be inserted into the housing and a full locking position at which the spacer is engaged with the terminal accommodated in the housing; a temporary locking portion that holds the spacer at a temporary locking position and a full locking portion that holds the spacer at a full locking position are provided between the housing and the spacer, the main locking portion has a main locking projection provided on the housing and a main locking projection provided on the spacer and capable of engaging with the main locking projection, the to-be-latched projection and the final latching projection are spaced apart from each other at a provisional latching position of the spacer, a guide portion is provided between the housing and the spacer, the guide portion moving the spacer and engaging the to-be-locked projection with the final locking projection when the spacer is moved from the partial locking position toward the final locking position, The guide portion is a connector having an elastic arm that is elastically deformed by movement of the spacer from the provisional locking position toward the final locking position, and moves the spacer by recovering from the elastic deformation.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the guide portion has a guide surface that slides to move the spacer in response to the movement of the spacer from the provisional locking position to the final locking position.

3. A housing, a spacer that is assembled to the housing and engages with a terminal accommodated in the housing to hold the terminal in the housing; Equipped with the spacer is assembled to the housing so as to be movable between a provisional locking position at which the terminal can be inserted into the housing and a full locking position at which the spacer is engaged with the terminal accommodated in the housing; a temporary locking portion that holds the spacer at a temporary locking position and a full locking portion that holds the spacer at a full locking position are provided between the housing and the spacer, the main locking portion has a main locking projection provided on the housing and a main locking projection provided on the spacer and capable of engaging with the main locking projection, the to-be-latched projection and the final latching projection are spaced apart from each other at a provisional latching position of the spacer, a guide portion is provided between the housing and the spacer, the guide portion moving the spacer and engaging the to-be-locked projection with the final locking projection when the spacer is moved from the partial locking position toward the final locking position, The main locking projection is provided on an elastically deformable main locking arm, The spacer is provided with a deformation restricting portion for restricting excessive deformation of the main locking arm.

4. A housing, a spacer that is assembled to the housing and engages with a terminal accommodated in the housing to hold the terminal in the housing; Equipped with the spacer is assembled to the housing so as to be movable between a provisional locking position at which the terminal can be inserted into the housing and a full locking position at which the spacer is engaged with the terminal accommodated in the housing; a temporary locking portion that holds the spacer at a temporary locking position and a full locking portion that holds the spacer at a full locking position are provided between the housing and the spacer, the main locking portion has a main locking projection provided on the housing and a main locking projection provided on the spacer and capable of engaging with the main locking projection, the to-be-latched projection and the final latching projection are spaced apart from each other at a provisional latching position of the spacer, a guide portion is provided between the housing and the spacer, the guide portion moving the spacer and engaging the to-be-locked projection with the final locking projection when the spacer is moved from the partial locking position toward the final locking position, The connector further includes an auxiliary locking portion provided between the housing and the spacer, the auxiliary locking portion being engaged with the spacer as the spacer is moved by the guide portion, and holding the spacer in a main locking position.

5. 5. A connector as described in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary locking portion is provided with an auxiliary guide portion which moves the spacer and engages the to-be-locked projection with the final locking projection when the spacer is moved from the provisional locking position toward the final locking position.

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