connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which allows improvement in workability when it is fitted to a mating connector.SOLUTION: A housing 11 has: a first member 16 which supports a slider 14 serving as a lever member; and a second member 17 which houses, in a housing space 25 formed between itself and the first member 16, a seal member 15 in a manner of sandwiching it in a front-to-rear direction. The second member 17 has a pressed part 29. The lever member has a pressing part 65 which comes into contact with the pressed part 29 so as to press the second member 17 in a direction in which a front-to-rear dimension of the housing space 25 (a thickness dimension of the seal member 15) is reduced. The pressed part 29 is disposed in a state where the engagement with the lever member is released until it comes into contact with the pressing part 65 during a displacement process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a housing that can be fitted to a mating connector, a rear holder that is attached to a rear part of the housing, and a slide lever that is movably supported on the housing. The slide lever fits the housing and the mating connector by moving relative to the housing. The rear holder has a rear holder cam pin. The slide lever has a rear holder cam groove that can engage with the rear holder cam pin.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for fitting a housing and a mating connector together using a pivotable lever member. The rear holder in Patent Document 2 has a clamping protrusion. The lever member has a cam protrusion that can be engaged with the clamping protrusion.

[0004] In the cases of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, when the housing and the mating connector are in a mated state, the seal member is held in a compressed state between the rear holder and the housing. When the seal member is compressed, the seal hole (referred to as the rubber plug side insertion hole in Patent Document 1 and as the through hole in Patent Document 2) is reduced in diameter, allowing the seal member to adhere liquid-tightly to the outer circumferential surface of the electric wire. When the seal member is in its natural state, the inner diameter of the seal hole can be made larger than when it is reduced in diameter, so that even with a small seal member, the rigidity of the die pin that forms the seal hole can be ensured. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-175840 A [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-288500 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the case of Patent Document 2, the clamping projection engages with the cam projection over the entire rotation stroke of the lever member. In the case of Patent Document 1, the rear holder cam pin of the rear holder can also engage with the groove surface of the rear holder cam groove of the slide lever. In this case, when the lever member (including the slide lever) is operated, in addition to the normal fitting resistance, an engagement resistance between the lever member and the rear holder is also added, which may hinder efforts to further improve operability.

[0007] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can improve the workability when mating a housing with a mating connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing into which a mating connector can be mated, a sealing member disposed within the housing and sealing an outer surface of an electric wire, and a lever member disposed so as to be displaceable relative to the housing and mating the housing with the mating connector, the housing having a first member supporting the lever member, and a second member accommodating the sealing member in an accommodating space formed between the first member and the second member so as to sandwich the sealing member in the mating direction of the housing with the mating connector, the second member having a pressed portion, the lever member having a pressing portion that contacts the pressed portion and presses the second member in a direction to reduce the dimension of the accommodating space in the mating direction, the pressed portion being disposed in a disengaged state with the lever member until it comes into contact with the pressing portion during the displacement process of the lever member. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can improve the workability when mating a housing with a mating connector. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the housing and the mating connector are properly mated. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the mating connector. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second member as viewed obliquely from above and behind. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the second member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first member as viewed obliquely from below and from the front. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the first member. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of the first member. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view of the operating member. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the slider. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the slider. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a front view of the seal member. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state in which the slider is placed at the movement start position and the housing and the mating connector are shallowly fitted together. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between each pressed portion and each pressing portion in the latter stage of the movement process of the slider. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between each pressed portion and each pressing portion when the slider is in the movement completion position. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which, in the state of FIG. 15, the pressed portion climbs onto the top surface of the pressing portion and the contact surface of the pressed portion comes into contact with the top surface of the pressing portion. [Figure 17]FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first locking portion and the second locking portion are arranged so as to be able to lock with each other when the slider is at the movement start position. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the locking protrusion of the second locking portion is positioned away from the first locking edge of the first locking portion when the slider is at the movement completion position. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the state of FIG. 18 as seen from the side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [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 into which a mating connector can be fitted, a sealing member disposed within the housing and sealing an outer surface of an electric wire, and a lever member disposed so as to be displaceable relative to the housing and fitting the housing to the mating connector, wherein the housing has a first member supporting the lever member, and a second member accommodating the sealing member in an accommodating space formed between the first member and the second member so as to sandwich the sealing member in the mating direction of the housing with the mating connector, the second member having a pressed portion, the lever member having a pressing portion that contacts the pressed portion and presses the second member in a direction to reduce the dimension of the accommodating space in the mating direction, the pressed portion being disposed in a disengaged state with the lever member until it comes into contact with the pressing portion during the displacement process of the lever member.

[0012] When the housing and the mating connector are in a mated state, the pressing portion comes into contact with the pressed portion and presses the second member, thereby reducing the dimension of the accommodating space in the mating direction, and the seal member is compressed to come into liquid-tight contact with the outer circumferential surface of the electric wire, thereby ensuring the sealing performance of the seal member. Since the pressed portion and the lever member are positioned in a non-engaged state until the pressed portion comes into contact with the pressing portion during the displacement process of the lever member, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of engagement resistance between the pressed portion and the lever member, thereby improving workability when fitting the housing and the mating connector.

[0013] (2) It is preferable that the pressing portion presses the second member rearward in the fitting direction, the first member is configured as a box-shaped frame that is open forward in the fitting direction, and the second member is accommodated within the first member to form the accommodation space between itself and a rear wall portion of the first member.

[0014] The first member can function as a rear holder that prevents the seal member from slipping out rearward in addition to supporting the slider. This eliminates the need to provide the connector with a dedicated rear holder, allowing the number of parts to be reduced.

[0015] (3) The first member may have a recess extending in the fitting direction, and the pressed portion may be configured as a guide that is displaceably disposed in the recess.

[0016] The pressed portion of the second member can function as a movement guide for the second member relative to the first member, in addition to functioning as a pressing target for the pressing portion.

[0017] (4) The lever member has a cam groove, which has a cam engagement portion that engages with the cam pin of the mating connector, and a play portion that is connected to the cam engagement portion at the rear end of the cam groove and does not engage with the cam pin, and it is preferable that the pressing portion and the pressed portion come into contact when the cam pin is positioned in the play portion.

[0018] The cam pin engages with the cam engagement portion, and while mating resistance occurs between the housing and the mating connector, no mating resistance occurs between the pressing portion and the pressed portion. On the other hand, while mating resistance occurs between the pressing portion and the pressed portion, no mating resistance occurs between the housing and the mating connector. This makes it possible to prevent mating resistance and engagement resistance from occurring simultaneously, thereby further improving operability.

[0019] (5) The lever member is a slider that moves relative to the first member in a direction intersecting the mating direction to reach a movement completion position, and the pressing portion is arranged in a row on the slider in the movement direction of the slider, and each of the pressing portions has a top surface that contacts the contact surface of the pressed portion when the housing is mated with the mating connector, and the top surfaces of the pressing portions are arranged forward of the pressing portion located at the tip end of the movement direction of the slider to the movement completion position, and the pressed portion is arranged in a row on the second member to correspond to the pressing portions, and the contact surfaces of the pressed portions are arranged forward of the pressed portion located at the tip end of the movement direction of the slider to the movement completion position.

[0020] If the second member has an elongated shape in the direction of movement of the slider and the pressing portion and the pressed portion are configured to contact each other at only one point in the direction of movement of the slider, a force in a tilting direction (a direction tilting relative to the front-to-back direction) will be applied to the second member, and the second member may be pressed by the pressing portion, preventing it from moving smoothly.

[0021] In contrast, according to the above configuration, since a plurality of pressing parts and pressed parts are provided and contact can be made at a plurality of points in the movement direction of the slider, a force in the tilting direction is unlikely to be applied to the second member, and the second member can move smoothly. In particular, since the top surface of each pressing part and the contact surface of each pressed part that are located at the tip side in the movement direction to the movement completion position of the slider are arranged on the front side, each pressing part and each pressed part can be brought into contact with each other at the same time in the latter part of the movement process of the slider.

[0022] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that 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.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 11, a wire cover 12, an operating member 13, a pair of sliders 14, and a seal member 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 11 is adapted to be mated with a mating connector 90. In the following description, the front side is defined as the surface side of the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 that faces each other when mating starts. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 to FIG. 9, and FIG. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction in each of the drawings except for FIG. 8 and FIG. 19. As will be described later, the left side in FIG. 14 is the forward side in the moving direction of the slider 14. These directions do not necessarily coincide with the directions in a state in which the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like.

[0024] <Matching connector> As shown in FIG. 3, the mating connector 90 includes a mating housing 91 and mating terminal fittings 92. As shown in FIG. The mating housing 91 is made of synthetic resin and has a tubular hood portion 93 that is long in the left-right direction. The hood portion 93 is open at the front. The mating terminal fittings 92 are made of conductive metal and, as shown in Fig. 2, are tab-shaped and are arranged so that multiple mating terminal fittings protrude inside the hood portion 93. The rear ends of the mating terminal fittings 92 are electrically connected to a circuit board (not shown).

[0025] 3, a plurality of cam pins 94 (three in the case of the first embodiment) protruding upward are formed on the upper wall of the hood portion 93. A plurality of (three) cam pins 94 protruding downward are also formed on the lower wall of the hood portion 93. The cam pins 94 are arranged side by side at intervals in the left-right direction on the upper and lower walls of the hood portion 93.

[0026] <Housing, wire cover, operating parts> The housing 11 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 2, has a first member 16 and a second member 17 which are assembled to each other. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the second member 17 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 2, the second member 17 has a plurality of cavities 18 that penetrate in the front-rear direction. A terminal fitting 20 (only one is shown in Figure 2) is inserted from the rear into each cavity 18 and accommodated therein. The terminal fitting 20 is a female terminal made of conductive metal, and is crimped to an end portion of the electric wire 100. When the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 are in a mated state, a mating terminal fitting 92 is inserted into the terminal fitting 20 and electrically connected thereto.

[0027] 1 and 2, a front holder 19 is attached to the front end of the second member 17. A retainer 21 is attached to the front-rear intermediate portion of the second member 17. The retainer 21 secondarily locks the terminal fitting 20 inserted into the cavity 18. A seal ring 22 is fitted onto the outer circumferential surface of the second member 17. The seal ring 22 is compressed between the housing 11 and the hood portion 93, thereby fitting the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 liquid-tightly.

[0028] 4, a cylindrical portion 23 is formed at the rear end of the second member 17. The inside of the cylindrical portion 23 is open to the rear, and forms an accommodation space 25 for accommodating the seal member 15 between it and a rear wall portion 24 of the first member 16 described below. A plurality of second positioning pins 26 are formed on the rear surface of the second member 17 (the surface facing the accommodation space 25) so as to protrude rearward (to the accommodation space 25) from the four corners of each cavity 18.

[0029] A pair of second locking portions 27 protruding rearward are formed in the upper and lower middle portions of the left and right side walls of the cylindrical portion 23. Each second locking portion 27 has a plate shape that is long in the vertical direction. A second locking protrusion 28 protruding outward (toward the opposite side from the mutually opposing sides) is formed at the rear end of each second locking portion 27.

[0030] A plurality of (four in the case of the first embodiment) pressed parts 29 are formed on the upper wall of the cylindrical part 23 and protrude upward. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of (four) pressed parts 29 are also formed on the lower wall of the cylindrical part 23 and protrude downward. Each pressed part 29 is cylindrical except for the pressed part 29A at the right end in FIG. 4 (the left end in FIG. 5), and has a slit 31 for removing weight that extends forward from the rear end. When the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 are in a mated state, as shown in FIG. 15, each pressed part 29 (except the pressed part 29A) is arranged coaxially in front of each cam pin 94. The pressed part 29A is ribbed and extends in the front-rear direction, and is formed with a smaller left-right dimension than the other pressed parts 29. The front end of each pressed portion 29 has a convex curved shape, and as shown in FIG. 16, is configured as a contact surface 32 that comes into contact with a top surface 66 of a pressing portion 65, which will be described later.

[0031] The pressed portions 29 are arranged side by side at intervals in the left-right direction on the upper and lower walls of the cylindrical portion 23. As shown in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, the pressed portions 29 are gradually changed in front-rear position on the upper and lower walls of the cylindrical portion 23, and specifically, the pressed portions 29 located on the left side of Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 (the forward side in the movement direction when the slider 14 moves from the movement start position to the movement completion position) are arranged further forward. Therefore, the contact surface 32 of each pressed portion 29 is also arranged further forward than the pressed portion 29 located on the forward side in the movement direction of the slider 14.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, the first member 16 is configured as a square cylindrical frame. As shown in Fig. 6, the first member 16 has a fitting tube portion 33 and a rear wall portion 24 that closes the rear end portion of the fitting tube portion 33. The fitting tube portion 33 has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction and is open to the front. The rear wall portion 24 is disposed at the rear end portion of the fitting tube portion 33 with the wall surface facing in the front-rear direction.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2, the second member 17 is inserted from the front into the fitting tube portion 33 and accommodated therein. A plurality of through holes 34 penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed in the rear wall portion 24 at positions corresponding to each of the cavities 18. As shown in Fig. 6, a plurality of first positioning pins 35 protruding forward (into the accommodation space 25) from four corners of each through hole 34 are formed on the front surface of the rear wall portion 24 (the surface facing the accommodation space 25).

[0034] As shown in Fig. 7, a cover mounting portion 36 is formed on the rear surface of the rear wall portion 24. The cover mounting portion 36 has a plurality of protrusions 37 on the upper and lower sides of each through hole 34 on the rear surface of the rear wall portion 24. As shown in Fig. 13, the wire cover 12 engages with each protrusion 37 of the cover mounting portion 36, and is mounted in a state in which the wire cover 12 is restricted from slipping off rearward from the first member 16.

[0035] The wire cover 12 is made of synthetic resin and has a cap shape, and is attached to the first member 16 so as to cover the rear surface of the rear wall portion 24. The wires 100 connected to the terminal fittings 20 are pulled out from the rear surface of the rear wall portion 24 through the wire cover 12 to the side, that is, to the right in Fig. 13 in the case of the first embodiment. A cover-side locking portion 38 is formed on the left end surface of the wire cover 12 in Fig. 13.

[0036] The fitting cylinder portion 33 is formed with a protruding portion 39 that protrudes to the left side in Fig. 7. A pair of upper and lower bearing portions 41 that open rearward are formed on the protruding portion 39. As shown in Fig. 2, the operating member 13 is rotatably supported by the bearing portions 41 of the first member 16, and is locked by the cover-side lock portion 38 to restrict its rotation.

[0037] The operating member 13 is made of synthetic resin and has a rectangular frame shape as a whole, as shown in Fig. 9. The operating member 13 has a pair of operating arms 42 facing each other in the vertical direction, and a pair of connecting parts 43, 44 connecting the respective ends of the operating arms 42 in the horizontal direction. An operator can rotate the operating member 13 while holding the connecting part 43 on the left side in Fig. 9, among the connecting parts 43, 44. An operation lock part 45 is formed in the connecting part 43 on the left side in Fig. 9.

[0038] A pair of rotation shafts 46 protruding inwardly so as to face each other are formed at the end of each operation arm 42 near the right connecting portion 44 in FIG. 9. Each rotation shaft 46 is cylindrical. As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the operation member 13 is rotatable about each rotation shaft 46 fitted in the bearing portion 41 of the first member 16. As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of slide cam portions 47 protruding inwardly are formed at a portion of each operation arm 42 close to the rotation shaft 46. Each slide cam portion 47 is formed with a protruding dimension smaller than each rotation shaft 46. The protruding tip of the slide cam portion 47 is formed in a cam shape that can be engaged with a slide cam receiving portion 57 described later, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 7, the first member 16 is formed with a pair of first locking portions 48 penetrating the rear ends of the left and right side walls of the fitting tube portion 33. As shown in Fig. 8, the first locking portions 48 have a rectangular opening shape in a side view. The upper and lower middle portions of the rear wall portion 24 are visible from the side through the first locking portions 48. The first locking portions 48 have a first locking edge 49 along the up-down direction as the front opening edge.

[0040] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, support holes 51 extending in the left-right direction are formed at the upper and lower ends inside the fitting cylinder 33. As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the slider 14 is inserted into the support holes 51 and is movable in the left-right direction. One end of each support hole 51 penetrates one side wall of the fitting cylinder 33 and, as shown in Figure 8, forms a rectangular opening shape that is long in the front-rear direction in side view.

[0041] 6, 14, and 15, the inside of the fitting cylinder portion 33 has slide rail portions 52, 53 extending in the left-right direction while facing each other in the front-rear direction inside each support hole 51. Of the slide rail portions 52, 53, the rear slide rail portion 52 located on the rear side defines an upper portion (see FIG. 6) and a lower portion of the accommodation space 25.

[0042] A plurality of recesses 54 extending short in the front-rear direction are formed in the rear slide rail portion 52. Each recess 54 opens in the form of a rectangular cutout at the front end of the rear slide rail portion 52. As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the recesses 54 are arranged in the rear slide rail portion 52 at positions corresponding to the pressed portions 29, and are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0043] Of the slide rail portions 52, 53, the front slide rail portion 53 disposed at the front side has through holes 55 formed therein that extend in the front-rear direction and penetrate the front wall portion of the fitting cylinder portion 33 (the front portions of the upper and lower walls of the fitting cylinder portion 33) as shown in Fig. 15. The through holes 55 are arranged side by side at intervals in the left-right direction in the front wall portion of the fitting cylinder portion 33 and in the front slide rail portions 53 at positions facing the recesses 54. When the fitting of the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 begins, the cam pins 94 are inserted into the through holes 55 from the front.

[0044] <Slider> 1, the sliders 14 are configured as lever members, and are formed in pairs in the up-down direction so as to correspond to the respective support holes 51. Each slider 14 has a plate shape that is long in the left-right direction.

[0045] 10 and 11, an elastic lock portion 56 extending in the left-right direction is formed on the slider 14. The elastic lock portion 56 is capable of being locked to the fitting cylinder portion 33 when the slider 14 stops moving.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 10, a slide cam receiving portion 57 is recessed in the outer surface of the slider 14 near the right end in Fig. 10. The slide cam receiving portion 57 has a U-shaped opening at the rear end of the slider 14. When the operating member 13 is rotated and the slide cam portion 47 slides on the edge of the slide cam receiving portion 57, the slider 14 can move relative to the housing 11 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

[0047] 11, a plurality of cam grooves 58 (three in the present embodiment 1) are recessed into the inner surface of each slider 14 (the surface where the sliders 14 face each other) as shown in FIG. 11. The cam grooves 58 are arranged side by side at intervals in the left-right direction on the inner surface of the slider 14.

[0048] Each cam groove 58 is formed to extend in a direction inclined with respect to the front-rear direction from an entrance opening at the front end of the slider 14 toward the back. Specifically, the cam groove 58 has a cam engagement portion 59 formed between the entrance end and the back end, and a play portion 61 formed at the back end.

[0049] When the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 start to be fitted together, each cam pin 94 is inserted into the entrance of each cam groove 58. In this state, the operating member 13 is rotated and the slider 14 moves to the left in Fig. 14 relative to the housing 11, causing each cam pin 94 to slide on the groove surface of the cam engagement portion 59 of each cam groove 58. In this manner, with each cam pin 94 positioned in the cam engagement portion 59 of each cam groove 58 and the slider 14 and the mating connector 90 engaged (cam engaged), the fitting of the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 progresses.

[0050] Just before the movement of the slider 14 is completed, the housing 11 is disengaged from the mating connector 90. When the slider 14 is in the movement completion position, the cam pin 94 moves into the play portion 61 of the cam groove 58.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 11, an insertion groove 62 extending in the left-right direction is recessed behind each cam groove 58 on the inner surface of the slider 14. One end of the insertion groove 62 opens at one end (the end on the right side in Fig. 11) of the slider 14. Each pressed portion 29 of the second member 17 is inserted into the insertion groove 62 from the opening at one end of the slider 14.

[0052] The insertion groove 62 of the slider 14 has a rear edge 63 that extends linearly in the left-right direction at its rear end, and front edges 64, 65 that extend curvedly (wavy) in the left-right direction at its front end.

[0053] The front end edges 64, 65 of the insertion groove 62 of the slider 14 have a plurality of straight portions 64 arranged in a row at intervals in the left-right direction, and a plurality of pressing portions 65 protruding in a mountain shape rearward between each straight portion 64 (in the direction of reducing the front-to-rear groove width of the insertion groove 62).

[0054] In the case of the first embodiment, the pressing portions 65 are arranged in a line of four in the left-right direction at positions corresponding to the pressed portions 29 at the front end edges 64, 65 of the insertion groove 62 of the slider 14. The pressing portion 65 has a top surface 66 along the left-right direction, a leading inclined surface 67 that inclines forward from the right end of the top surface 66 toward the right side in Fig. 11, and a trailing inclined surface 68 that inclines forward from the left end of the top surface 66 toward the left side in Fig. 11. The leading inclined surface 67 and the trailing inclined surface 68 are inclined at an inclination angle of 45° or less with respect to the straight portion 64.

[0055] At the front end edges 64, 65 of the insertion groove 62 of the slider 14, the vertical dimension from the straight portion 64 to the top surface 66 of each pressing portion 65, i.e., the height dimension of each pressing portion 65, is set so that the pressing portion 65 located on the left side in Figures 14 and 15 is lower. Therefore, the top surface 66 of each pressing portion 65 is disposed further forward at the front end edges 64, 65 from the pressing portion 65 located on the right side in Figures 14 and 15 to the pressing portion 65 located on the left side in Figures 14 and 15. In other words, the top surface 66 of each pressing portion 65 is disposed sequentially further forward from the pressing portion 65 located on the right side in Figures 14 and 15 to the pressing portion 65 located on the left side.

[0056] The front-to-rear dimension between the front edges 64, 65 and the rear edge 63 of the insertion groove 62, i.e., the front-to-rear groove width of the insertion groove 62, is smallest between the top surface 66 of the pressing portion 65 located at the right end in Figures 14 and 15 and the rear edge 63 (see Figure 16), but is set larger than the front-to-rear dimension of the pressed portion 29 except for this minimum width portion. When placed in the insertion groove 62, the pressed portion 29 does not substantially come into contact with any portion other than the corresponding pressing portion 65, and is maintained in a non-engaged state.

[0057] <Sealing material> The seal member 15 is made of rubber and is configured as a mat-like one-piece rubber plug having a thickness in the front-rear direction as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The seal member 15 has a plurality of seal holes 71 penetrating in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figure 2, when the seal member 15 is accommodated in the accommodation space 25 of the housing 11, each seal hole 71 communicates with each cavity 18 and each through hole 34 in the front-rear direction. An electric wire 100 connected to a terminal fitting 20 is inserted into each seal hole 71 in a liquid-tight manner. 12, a plurality of second positioning recesses 72 are recessed into the four corners of each seal hole 71 in the front surface of the seal member 15. Each second positioning pin 26 is inserted in a positioned state into each second positioning recess 72. Similarly, a plurality of first positioning recesses (not shown) into which each first positioning pin 35 can be inserted in a positioned state are recessed into the four corners of each seal hole 71 in the rear surface of the seal member 15.

[0058] The front-to-rear thickness of the sealing member 15 in its natural state is set to be smaller than the front-to-rear distance between the front surface of the rear wall portion 24 and the rear surface of the second member 17, i.e., the front-to-rear dimension of the accommodating space 25, when the slider 14 is in the start of movement position (see Figure 17), and is set to be larger than the front-to-rear dimension of the accommodating space 25 when the slider 14 is in the complete movement position (see Figure 18).

[0059] <Connector Function> Before the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 are fitted together, as shown in FIG. 13, the operating member 13 is in a standing position in the front-rear direction so that the connecting portion 43 is spaced apart from the rear of the wire cover 12, and the slider 14 is placed at the movement start position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17, the second locking projection 28 of the second locking portion 27 is fitted into the inside of the first locking portion 48 and is arranged so as to be able to be locked by the first locking edge 49, and the first member 16 and the second member 17 are held in a state in which separation is restricted. The seal member 15 accommodated in the accommodation space 25 of the housing 11 is supported by the first positioning pins 35 fitted into the first positioning recesses (not shown) and the second positioning pins 26 fitted into the second positioning recesses 72, and is placed in a state in which a gap G is formed between the seal member 15 and the rear surface of the second member 17 (uncompressed state, natural state). The slider 14 is placed in the support hole 51 inside the fitting tube portion 33 at the movement start position. Into the insertion grooves 62, the pressed portions 29 (except for the pressed portion 29A) are inserted in a state where they are not engaged with the pressing portions 65.

[0060] From the above state, the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 are shallowly fitted together, and the operating member 13 is rotated so as to tilt in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 13. Then, due to the engagement between the slide cam portion 47 and the slide cam receiving portion 57, the slider 14 starts to move to the left in Fig. 13 relative to the housing 11.

[0061] In the process in which the slider 14 moves from the movement start position to the movement completion position, each pressed portion 29 faces the corresponding pressing portion 65 in the movement direction of the slider 14, but is disposed away from the leading inclined surface 67 of the corresponding pressing portion 65. Thus, a non-engaged state between each pressed portion 29 and each pressing portion 65 is maintained. Meanwhile, each cam pin 94 of the mating connector 90 slides on the groove surface of the cam engagement portion 59 from the entrance of each cam groove 58, and the fitting between the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 progresses.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 14, just before the slider 14 reaches the completion position, each cam pin 94 moves from the cam engagement portion 59 of each cam groove 58 to the play portion 61, and the force (mating resistance force) attracting the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 to each other no longer acts.

[0063] Here, each pressed portion 29 comes into contact with the corresponding pressing portion 65. As the slider 14 moves further, each pressed portion 29 slides on the leading inclined surface 67 of each pressing portion 65 and displaces rearward along the corresponding recessed portion 54. The second member 17 is pressed by each pressing portion 65 via each pressed portion 29, and moves rearward relative to the slider 14 and the first member 16 supporting the slider 14.

[0064] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 2, the operation lock portion 45 of the operating member 13 is locked by the cover-side lock portion 38 of the wire cover 12, and the rotation of the operating member 13 is stopped, and at the same time, the movement of the slider 14 is stopped and the slider 14 is held at the movement completion position relative to the housing 11. At this time, as shown in Fig. 16, the pressed portion 29 rides up onto the top surface 66 of the pressing portion 65, and the contact surface 32 of the pressed portion 29 and the top surface 66 of the pressing portion 65 come into contact with each other. As shown in Fig. 15, the cam pin 94 reaches the innermost part of the play portion 61 of the cam groove 58.

[0065] While the cam pin 94 is displaced within the play portion 61 of the cam groove 58, the second member 17 retreats and the rear surface of the second member 17 approaches the rear wall portion 24 of the first member 16, thereby reducing the front-to-rear dimension of the storage space 25 and compressing the sealing member 15 contained in the storage space 25 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0066] When the slider 14 reaches the movement completion position and the second member 17 retreats relative to the slider 14 and the first member 16, the seal member 15 is compressed with a predetermined compressive force. This causes the diameter of each seal hole 71 to be reduced, and the inner circumferential surface of each seal hole 71 comes into liquid-tight contact with the outer circumferential surface of the electric wire 100. The outer circumferential surface of each seal member 15 also comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 23. As a result, the seal member 15 makes the housing 11 waterproof.

[0067] When the slider 14 reaches the movement completion position and the second member 17 retreats relative to the slider 14 and the first member 16, the second locking protrusion 28 of the second locking portion 27 is disposed rearward of the first locking edge 49 and spaced apart from the first locking edge 49, as shown in Fig. 18. This state can be confirmed by viewing the housing 11 from the side, as shown in Fig. 19. Therefore, by visually confirming the state shown in Fig. 19 in which the second locking portion 27 protrudes rearward from the first locking edge 49, it can be seen that the second member 17 retreats relative to the slider 14 and the first member 16 and the seal member 15 is compressed within the housing 11.

[0068] As described above, in the case of the first embodiment, while each cam pin 94 engages with the cam engagement portion 59 of each cam groove 58 and a mating resistance occurs between the housing 11 and the mating connector 90, each pressed portion 29 is disposed away from each pressing portion 65. Therefore, each pressed portion 29 does not come into contact with each pressing portion 65, and the seal member 15 is not compressed. In addition, each pressed portion 29 does not come into contact with any portion of the slider 14 other than each pressing portion 65. Therefore, no engagement resistance occurs between each pressed portion 29 and the slider 14. In contrast, in a state in which each cam pin 94 is disposed in the play portion 61 of each cam groove 58, each pressed portion 29 comes into contact with each pressing portion 65, and the seal member 15 is compressed to generate an engagement resistance, but the above-mentioned mating resistance does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to prevent fitting resistance and engagement resistance from being applied simultaneously during the movement of the slider 14, and the workability when fitting the housing 11 and the mating housing 91 together can be improved.

[0069] In the first embodiment, the pressing portions 65 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, which is the moving direction of the slider 14, and the top surface 66 of each pressing portion 65 is arranged so that the pressing portion 65 located on the left side of FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, which is the forward side of the moving direction of the slider 14, is located forward. The pressed portions 29 are also arranged side by side in the left-right direction in the second member 17, and the contact surface 32 of each pressed portion 29 is arranged so that the pressed portion 29 located on the left side of FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 is located forward. Therefore, in addition to being able to prevent each pressed portion 29 from contacting a pressing portion 65 other than the corresponding pressing portion 65 during the moving process of the slider 14, the timing at which each pressed portion 29 contacts the corresponding pressing portion 65 can be set all at once before the end of the moving process of the slider 14. As a result, the workability when fitting the housing 11 and the mating connector 90 can be further improved.

[0070] In the first embodiment, the first member 16 is configured as a box-shaped frame, and an accommodation space 25 is formed between a rear wall portion 24 of the first member 16 and the rear surface of the second member 17. Therefore, the first member 16 can have a function of supporting the slider 14, a function of fitting with the mating connector 90, and a function of preventing the seal member 15 from slipping out rearward.

[0071] Furthermore, each pressed portion 29 is displaced rearward along the corresponding recess 54, thereby guiding the movement of the second member 17 relative to the first member 16, allowing the second member 17 to move back smoothly. In this way, each pressed portion 29 can function as a movement guide for the second member 17 relative to the first member 16, in addition to functioning as a pressing target for each pressing portion 65 on the second member 17.

[0072] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The above-disclosed embodiment 1 should be considered as an example and not a limitation. In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the connector has an operating member as a means for moving the slider. However, in other embodiments, the connector does not need to have an operating member. In other embodiments, the operator can move the slider itself by pressing it, etc. In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the lever member is configured as a slider that is movable relative to the housing in a direction intersecting the fitting direction. However, in another embodiment, the lever member may be configured as a rotating lever that is rotatable relative to the housing. In the first embodiment, the pressing parts are formed independently in the left-right direction of the slider. However, in another embodiment, the pressing parts may be formed by connecting adjacent pressing parts in the left-right direction of the slider. In another embodiment, each pressing part may not have a trailing slope, and may be configured by connecting a leading slope and a top surface in a staircase shape. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the multiple pressing parts are formed in the insertion groove of the slider. However, in another embodiment, the insertion groove may not be formed in the slider, and the multiple pressing parts may be formed at the rear end of the slider in the sliding direction. In the first embodiment, the pressed portion is formed on the second member capable of accommodating the terminal fitting. However, in another embodiment, the pressed portion may be formed on the rear holder that holds the seal member between the first member and the rear holder. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10…Connector 11. Housing 12…Wire cover 13...Operation member 14...Slider (lever component) 15...Sealing material 16...First member (frame) 17…Second member 18…Cavity 19…Front holder 20...Terminal metal fitting 21…Retainer 22…Seal ring 23...Cylindrical part 24...Rear wall part 25…Containment space 26…Second positioning pin 27…Second lock section 28…Second lock protrusion 29,29A…Pressed part 31...Slit 32…Contact surface 33...Mating cylinder portion 34...Through hole 35…First positioning pin 36…Cover attachment part 37…projection piece 38…Cover side lock part 39...Protruding part 41...Bearing part 42…Operation arm 43,44...Connection part 45...Operation lock section 46...Pivot shaft 47…Slide cam section 48…First lock section 49…First lock edge 51...Support hole 52...Rear slide rail section (slide rail section) 53...Front slide rail section (slide rail section) 54…Recess 55...Through hole 56...Elastic lock part 57…Slide cam receiving part 58…Cam groove 59...Cam engagement part 61…Play Club 62...Insertion groove 63...Rear edge 64...Straight section (front edge) 65...Pressing portion (front edge portion) 66…Top surface 67… Leading slope 68... Trailing slope 71…Seal hole 72...Second positioning recess 90…Mating connector 91…Matching housing 92…Mating terminal fitting 93…Food section 94…Campin 100...Electric wire G…Gap

Claims

1. a housing into which a mating connector can be mated; a seal member disposed within the housing and configured to seal an outer circumferential surface of the electric wire; a lever member disposed displaceably relative to the housing and adapted to mate the housing with the mating connector; the housing includes a first member supporting the lever member, and a second member accommodating the seal member in an accommodating space formed between the first member and a second member so as to sandwich the seal member in a fitting direction of the housing with respect to the mating connector, The second member has a pressed portion, the lever member has a pressing portion that comes into contact with the pressed portion and presses the second member in a direction to reduce a dimension of the accommodation space in the fitting direction, A connector, wherein the pressed portion is disposed in a non-engaged state with the lever member until the pressed portion comes into contact with the pressed portion during a displacement process of the lever member.

2. The pressing portion presses the second member rearward in the fitting direction, The first member is configured as a box-shaped frame that is open forward in the fitting direction, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the second member is housed within the first member, and defines the housing space between the second member and a rear wall portion of the first member.

3. The first member has a recess extending in the fitting direction, 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressed portion is configured as a guide that is displaceably disposed in the recess.

4. The lever member has a cam groove, The cam groove has a cam engagement portion that engages with a cam pin of the mating connector, and a play portion that is connected to the cam engagement portion at a rear end of the cam groove and does not engage with the cam pin, 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion and the pressed portion are in contact with each other when the cam pin is located in the play portion.

5. the lever member is a slider that moves relative to the first member in a direction intersecting the fitting direction to a movement completion position, The pressing portion is arranged on the slider in a plurality of rows in a moving direction of the slider, each of the pressing portions has a top surface that comes into contact with a contact surface of the pressed portion when the housing and the mating connector are in a mated state; The top surfaces of the plurality of pressing portions are arranged such that the pressing portion located at the tip side in the moving direction of the slider to the movement completion position is arranged on the front side, The pressed portion is arranged in a line in the second member so as to correspond to the pressing portions, 5. A connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the contact surfaces of the multiple pressure-receiving portions are arranged forward with the pressure-receiving portion located at the tip side in the movement direction of the slider to the movement completion position.

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