Electrical connector

Abstract

Ensuring an elastic deformation amount of the engaging portion that engages with the mating connector without increasing the size, sufficiently elastically deforming the engaging portion, and suppressing a restriction on the degree of freedom of the configuration of the components arranged around it. 【Solution means】The electrical connector 1 includes a pair of arm portions 221 that extend in a direction opposite to the fitting direction with a space from the main body portion 21 at a position on the end side in the fitting direction of the main body portion 21 with respect to the mating connector 200, a connecting portion 222 that connects the pair of arm portions 221 to each other at a position on the end side in the opposite direction of the pair of arm portions 221, and a lever portion 223 that extends in the fitting direction from the connecting portion 222 between the pair of arm portions 221 and engages with the mating connector 200 inserted into the insertion portion 212, and has an elastic portion 22.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector that connects a terminal assembly such as a cable to a mating connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a fitting structure between a female connector and a male connector, a configuration including a locking mechanism for engaging the female connector and the male connector with each other to prevent disengagement is known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in a fitting structure between a female connector and a male connector, in which locking portions that engage with the male connector are provided at the tip ends of a pair of extending portions that extend in one direction from a support portion of a female housing of the female connector. In Patent Document 1, by engaging the locking portions with the male connector, the male connector can be prevented from coming off with respect to the female connector.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, in order to secure an elastic function for displacing the locking portions that engage with the male connector by the length in one direction of the extending portions, and in order to secure a predetermined amount of elastic deformation, it is necessary to increase the length in one direction of the extending portions. Therefore, there is a problem that the female connector and the male connector become larger in size. Further, in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that as the female connector and the male connector become larger in size, the degree of freedom in the configuration of the components arranged around the female connector and the male connector is limited.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to secure an elastic deformation amount of an elastic portion that engages with a mating connector without increasing the size, so that the elastic portion can be sufficiently elastically deformed, and to suppress a restriction on the degree of freedom of the configuration of components arranged around it. The object is to provide an electrical connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The electrical connector according to the present invention is an electrical connector that connects a terminal assembly and a mating connector, and includes a holding portion that holds the terminal assembly, and an insertion portion that communicates with the holding portion and into which the mating connector is inserted and fitted. A main body portion, and an elastic portion provided on the main body portion and capable of elastic deformation. The elastic portion has a pair of arm portions that are spaced from the main body portion at a position on the end side in the fitting direction of the main body portion with respect to the mating connector and extend in a direction opposite to the fitting direction, and the pair of arm portions are connected to each other at a position on the end side in the opposite direction of the pair of arm portions. A connecting portion, and a lever portion that extends in the fitting direction from the connecting portion between the pair of arm portions and engages with the mating connector inserted into the insertion portion.

[0008] When connecting a mating connector to the electrical connector, the elastic portion pressed by the mating connector elastically deforms, so that the lever portion engages with the mating connector.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to secure an elastic deformation amount of the elastic portion that engages with the mating connector without increasing the size, so that the elastic portion can be sufficiently elastically deformed, and it is possible to suppress a restriction on the degree of freedom of the configuration of components arranged around it.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, with appropriate reference to the drawings, the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the figures, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis form a three-axis orthogonal coordinate system. The positive direction of the y-axis is the front direction, the negative direction of the y-axis is the rear direction, the positive direction of the x-axis is the left direction, the negative direction of the x-axis is the right direction, the positive direction of the z-axis is the upward direction, and the negative direction of the z-axis is the downward direction for the description.

[0012] <Configuration of the Electrical Connector> The configuration of the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16.

[0013] The electrical connector 1 connects a cable 100 as a terminal assembly and a mating connector 200. The electrical connector 1 has a housing 2 and a lock member 3.

[0014] The housing 2 is formed of an insulating material and includes a main body portion 21, an elastic portion 22, and a hood portion 23.

[0015] The main body part 21 is substantially rectangular, and includes a lock position restricting part 209, a non-lock position restricting part 210, a holding part 211, an insertion part 212, a guide part 213, a side wall part 214, a window hole part 215, a notch part 216, an opposing wall part 217, a partition part 218, and a fitting part 219.

[0016] The lock position restricting part 209 protrudes from the upper wall part 21a of the main body part 21. The lock position restricting part 209 is provided behind the hood part 23.

[0017] The non-lock position restricting part 210 protrudes from the upper wall part 21a and is provided behind the lock position restricting part 209.

[0018] The holding part 211 is formed forward from the rear end part of the main body part 21 and holds the cable 100.

[0019] The insertion part 212 is formed rearward from the front end part of the main body part 21 and communicates with the holding part 211 via the partition part 218. The inner diameter of the insertion part 212 is larger than the inner diameter of the holding part 211. The mating connector 200 is inserted into the insertion part 212, and a part of the cable 100 protrudes from the holding part 211.

[0020] The guide part 213 extends along the rear direction from the front end part of the main body part 21, and protrudes in the left and right inner directions, which is the opposing direction of the pair of opposing wall parts 217, from each of the pair of opposing wall parts 217 at the upper end part of the opposing wall part 217 and opposes each other. The guide part 213 communicates the insertion part 212 to the outside at the upper wall part 21a of the main body part 21.

[0021] The side wall parts 214 are erected upward from the upper wall part 21a at both end parts in the left and right directions of the main body part 21. The side wall parts 214 are provided from the front end part to the rear end part of the upper wall part 21a.

[0022] The window hole portion 215 is a through hole that penetrates in the vertical direction, which is the plate thickness direction provided in the hood portion 23, and is formed at a position facing the engaging hole portion 225 of the elastic portion 22 in the vertical direction.

[0023] The notch portion 216 is formed by being notched into a semi-elliptical shape from the rear end portion. The notch portion 216 is formed on the left side wall portion 21b of the main body portion 21 and communicates the holding portion 211 to the outside on the left side wall portion 21b. The notch portion 216 is provided to draw out the cable 100 held by the holding portion 211 to the left side of the main body portion 21.

[0024] The opposing wall portions 217 are inner wall portions that oppose each other in the left-right direction of the recessed portion recessed above the inner wall of the insertion portion 212, and extend along the rear direction from the front end portion of the main body portion 21.

[0025] The partition portion 218 is provided between the holding portion 211 and the insertion portion 212, and communicates the holding portion 211 and the insertion portion 212 with each other. The inner diameter of the partition portion 218 is smaller than the inner diameter of the holding portion 211.

[0026] The fitting portion 219 communicates the holding portion 211 to the outside on each of the left side wall portion 21b and the right side wall portion 21c, and holds the cable 100 in the holding portion 211 by fitting with the cable 100.

[0027] The elastic portion 22 is provided on the main body portion 21 and is elastically deformable. The elastic portion 22 includes an arm portion 221, a connecting portion 222, a lever portion 223, a protruding portion 224, and an engaging hole portion 225.

[0028] The wrist portions 221 are provided in a pair with a space therebetween in the left - right direction, and extend in the rear direction, which is opposite to the fitting direction, with a space from the front - end position (front end portion) in the front direction, which is the fitting direction of the mating connector 200 of the main body portion 21, with respect to the main body portion 21. Note that the wrist portions 221 are not limited to the configuration of extending in the rear direction from the front - end position in the front direction of the main body portion 21, and may have a configuration of extending in the rear direction from a position slightly behind the front - end position in the front direction of the main body portion 21. Here, the position on the front - end side in the front direction of the main body portion 21 includes both the front - end position in the front direction of the main body portion 21 and a position slightly behind the front - end position in the front direction of the main body portion 21.

[0029] The connection portion 222 connects the pair of wrist portions 221 to each other at the rear - end position (rear end portion) in the rear direction, which is the extending direction of the pair of wrist portions 221. The connection portion 222 protrudes above the wrist portions 221 and the lever portion 223 and is located below the upper - end portion of the side - wall portion 214 (see Fig. 5). The vertical length of the connection portion 222 is larger than the vertical length of the lever portion 223. Note that the connection portion 222 is not limited to the configuration of being located below the upper - end portion of the side - wall portion 214, and the upper - end portion of the connection portion 222 and the upper - end portion of the side - wall portion 214 may be at the same height. Also, the connection portion 222 is not limited to the configuration of connecting the pair of wrist portions 221 to each other at the rear - end position in the rear direction of the pair of wrist portions 221, and may have a configuration of connecting the pair of wrist portions 221 to each other at a position slightly in front of the rear - end position in the rear direction of the pair of wrist portions 221. Here, the position on the rear - end side in the rear direction of the pair of wrist portions 221 includes both the rear - end position in the rear direction of the pair of wrist portions 221 and a position slightly in front of the rear - end position in the rear direction of the pair of wrist portions 221.

[0030] The lever portion 223 extends in the front direction from the connection portion 222 between the pair of wrist portions 221 and is inserted through the locking member 3. The lever portion 223 includes an upper portion 223a, a lower portion 223b, and an intermediate portion 223c.

[0031] The upper portion 223a is provided on the rear end side of the lever portion 223. The vertical length of the upper portion 223a is greater than the vertical lengths of the lower portion 223b and the intermediate portion 223c.

[0032] The lower portion 223b is provided on the front end side of the lever portion 223 and is provided below the upper portion 223a.

[0033] The intermediate portion 223c connects the upper portion 223a and the lower portion 223b and is inclined forward.

[0034] The protruding portion 224 protrudes downward in a direction approaching the main body portion 21 between the front end (first end) and the rear end (second end) of the lever portion 223 and faces the locking member 3. The protruding portion 224 is provided at the connection portion between the lower portion 223b and the intermediate portion 223c. The protruding portion 224 is curved along the front-rear direction.

[0035] The engaging hole portion 225 as the engaging portion is provided between the protruding portion 224 and the front end of the lever portion 223. The engaging hole portion 225 is provided in the lower portion 223b of the lever portion 223 and engages with the engaging protrusion 201 of the mating connector 200 inserted into the insertion portion 212.

[0036] In the elastic portion 22 having the above configuration, by providing the lever portion 223 by folding back from the arm portion 221, the length in the front-rear direction can be reduced. On the other hand, by making it integrally elastically deformable from the arm portion 221 to the lever portion 223, the elastically deformable length can be increased, and the lever portion 223 can be sufficiently elastically deformed.

[0037] The hood portion 23 is provided on the front end side of the side wall portion 214 and connects the upper end portions of the pair of side wall portions 214. The hood portion 23 covers the front end side of the arm portion 221 and the lower portion 223b of the lever portion 223. The hood portion 23 is provided with a retaining portion 231 that protrudes downward and faces the lever portion 223.

[0038] The locking member 3 is formed of a material having insulation properties. The locking member 3 is disposed between the main body portion 21 and the elastic portion 22. The locking member 3 includes a support portion 31, an operation portion 32, a guided portion 33, a contact portion 34, and a bottom surface portion 35, and the lever portion 223 is surrounded by the support portion 31, the operation portion 32, and the bottom surface portion 35.

[0039] The support portions 31 are provided on the left and right side walls at the four corners of the substantially rectangular operation portion 32 and the bottom surface portion 35 as viewed from above, and connect the operation portion 32 and the bottom surface portion 35. The support portions 31 are respectively disposed so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction between each of the pair of arm portions 221 and the lever portion 223. A pair of the front-side support portions 31 among the four support portions 31 are engaged with the lock position restricting portion 209 to restrict the forward or backward movement of the locking member 3. A pair of the rear-side support portions 31 among the four support portions 31 are engaged with the non-lock position restricting portion 210 to restrict the forward movement of the locking member 3.

[0040] The operation portion 32 is provided at a distance from the bottom surface portion 35 in the vertical direction. The operation portion 32 faces the lever portion 223 in the vertical direction and is provided at a position overlapping the lever portion 223 as viewed from above.

[0041] The guided portion 33 protrudes downward from the bottom surface portion 35, and the tip portion in the protruding direction is bent outward in the left-right direction at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. The guided portion 33 is engaged with the guide portion 213 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and the movement of the guided portion 33 in the left-right direction, which is the facing direction of the pair of arm portions 221, is restricted by the guide portion 213.

[0042] The contact portion 34 protrudes from the lower ends and the rear ends of a pair of the support portions 31 on the rear end side among the four support portions 31. The contact portion 34 can contact the lower end of the connecting portion 222 of the elastic portion 22.

[0043] The bottom surface portion 35 is provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction between the upper wall portion 21a of the main body portion 21 and the lever portion 223.

[0044] <Method for Assembling Electrical Connector> A method for assembling the electrical connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15.

[0045] Insert the cable 100 into the holding portion 211 and the notch portion 216 of the main body portion 21 of the housing 2, and fit the cable 100 to the fitting portion 219 of the main body portion 21, thereby holding the cable 100 by the holding portion 211.

[0046] Also, insert the lock member 3 into the housing 2 from the front. At this time, insert the operation portion 32 between the hood portion 23 and the lever portion 223, insert the bottom surface portion 35 between the lever portion 223 and the upper wall portion 21a of the main body portion 21, and insert the support portion 31 between the arm portion 221 and the lever portion 223 while inserting the lock member 3 from the front.

[0047] By inserting the lock member 3 between the hood portion 23 and the upper wall portion 21a, the lock member 3 presses the retaining portion 231 of the hood portion 23 upward and passes through the hood portion 23 while elastically deforming the hood portion 23.

[0048] When the lock member 3 passes through the hood portion 23, the retaining portion 231 moves downward due to the elastic restoring force of the hood portion 23 itself, and the forward movement of the lock member 3 is restricted by the retaining portion 231. In this state, as shown in FIG. 18, a pair of support portions 31 on the front side of the lock member 3 abut against the lock position restricting portion 209 from the front, a pair of support portions 31 on the rear side of the lock member 3 abut against the non-lock position restricting portion 210, and further, the operation portion 32 abuts against the rear end portion of the retaining portion 231, so that the lock member 3 is held in a non-lock position where the contact portion 34 does not contact the connecting portion 222, and the lock member 3 can be prevented from falling off the housing 2.

[0049] In the method of assembling the above-described electrical connector 1, since the movement of the locking member 3 in the left-right direction is restricted by the guide portion 213 with which the guided portion 33 engages, the locking member 3 can be attached to the housing 2 without applying a load in the left-right direction to the arm portion 221 and the lever portion 223.

[0050] <Operation of the Electrical Connector> The operation of the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 22.

[0051] First, while holding the cable 100 by the holding portion 211 and with the locking member 3 in the unlocked position, the mating connector 200 is inserted into the insertion portion 212 of the electrical connector 1.

[0052] By inserting the mating connector 200 until it abuts against the partition portion 218 with respect to the insertion portion 212, the elastic portion 22 is elastically deformed when the lower portion 223b of the lever portion 223 abuts against the engaging projection 201 of the mating connector 200 and is pressed upward. Then, when the engaging projection 201 of the mating connector 200 moves to the position of the engaging hole portion 225 in the front-rear direction and engages with the engaging hole portion 225, the elastic portion 22 maintains the engaged state between the engaging hole portion 225 and the engaging projection 201 by its own elastic restoring force. As a result, the connection between the cable 100 and the mating connector 200 by the electrical connector 1 is completed and the state shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is achieved.

[0053] At this time, by providing the connection portion 222 below the upper end portion of the side wall portion 214, the side wall portion 214 can prevent the approach of a finger or a jig, etc. from above to the connection portion 222, so that it is possible to prevent the connection portion 222 from being inadvertently pressed downward. Further, by providing the window hole portion 215 at a position facing the engaging hole portion 225 of the elastic portion 22 in the vertical direction, the engaged state between the engaging hole portion 225 and the engaging projection 201 can be confirmed through the window hole portion 215 from above.

[0054] In a state where the connection between the cable 100 and the mating connector 200 by the electrical connector 1 is completed, the operation portion 32 of the lock member 3 is operated to slide the lock member 3 rearward, thereby moving the lock member 3 from the unlocked position to the locked position. At this time, a pair of strut portions 31 on the front side of the lock member 3 move over the lock position restricting portion 209 from the front side of the lock position restricting portion 209 to the rear side of the lock position restricting portion 209. Also, a pair of strut portions 31 on the rear side of the lock member 3 are separated from the unlock position restricting portion 210.

[0055] When the lock member 3 comes into contact with the connection portion 222 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the movement of the lock member 3 to the locked position is completed. At this time, the lock member 3 is held in the locked position because a pair of strut portions 31 on the front side abut against the rear side of the lock position restricting portion 209 and the forward movement is restricted. When the lock member 3 moves to the locked position, the connection portion 222 and the contact portion 34 of the lock member 3 come into contact with each other, and the downward movement in the direction approaching the main body portion 21 of the connection portion 222 is restricted.

[0056] Thereby, it is possible to prevent the engagement between the engaging protrusion 201 and the engaging hole portion 225 from being released, so that it is possible to prevent the connection between the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 200 from being released. Also, since the connection portion 222 can prevent the lock member 3 from dropping rearward from the main body portion 21, the operation portion for releasing the engagement between the engaging protrusion 201 and the engaging hole portion 225 and the dropout prevention portion for preventing the lock member 3 from dropping rearward from the main body portion 21 can be made to serve as the connection portion 222. Further, since the lever portion 223 can be supported by the lock member 3, the strength of the lever portion 223 can be improved.

[0057] Also, when disconnecting the electrical connector 1 from the mating connector 200 from the state where the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 200 are connected, the operation portion 32 of the locking member 3 is operated to slide the locking member 3 forward, thereby moving the locking member 3 from the locked position to the unlocked position. At this time, a pair of strut portions 31 on the front side of the locking member 3 move over the locking position restricting portion 209 from the rear side of the locking position restricting portion 209 to the front side of the locking position restricting portion 209. Also, a pair of strut portions 31 on the rear side of the locking member 3 abut against the unlocking position restricting portion 210, and the operation portion 32 abuts against the retaining portion 231 of the hood portion 23. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21, the contact portion 34 of the connection portion 222 and the locking member 3 does not contact, and a gap is formed between the connection portion 222 and the upper wall portion 21a of the main body portion 21, so that the connection portion 222 can move downward.

[0058] In the above operation, the movement of the locking member 3 in the left - right direction, which is the facing direction of the pair of arm portions 221 of the locking member 3, is restricted by the guide portion 213 with which the guided portion 33 engages. Thus, the locking member 3 does not interfere with the arm portions 221 and the lever portion 223, and it is possible to prevent a load from being applied to the elastic portion 22 from the locking member 3.

[0059] Also, in the above operation, the movement range R of the operation portion 32 when viewed from above during the movement of the locking member 3 between the locked position and the unlocked position is within the range L of the lever portion 223 when viewed from above, and the operation portion 32 does not protrude more than the lever portion 223 in the front - rear direction (see FIG. 21). Therefore, the size of the electrical connector 1 in the front - rear direction can be reduced.

[0060] In a state where the connection portion 222 can move downward, by pressing the connection portion 222 downward, the lever portion 223 and the arm portions 221 elastically deform and move downward. As a result, the protruding portion 224 of the lever portion 223 abuts against the bottom surface portion 35 of the locking member 3. In a state where the protruding portion 224 and the bottom surface portion 35 are in contact, the connection portion 222 and the protruding portion 224 are located on substantially the same straight line parallel to the front - rear direction (see FIG. 22).

[0061] In a state where the protruding portion 224 is in contact with the bottom surface portion 35, by further pressing the connecting portion 222 downward, the arm portion 221 and the connecting portion 222 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 20 with the protruding portion 224 as the rotation center, and the lever portion 223 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 20 with the protruding portion 224 as the rotation center. As a result, the downward pressing force applied to the connecting portion 222 can be stably received by the protruding portion 224, so that the operation of releasing the engagement between the engaging hole portion 225 and the engaging protrusion portion 201 can be stabilized. Further, since the lower portion 223b rotates with the protruding portion 224 as the rotation center, the downward movement distance of the connecting portion 222 until the engagement between the engaging hole portion 225 and the engaging protrusion portion 201 is released can be reduced, so that the electric connector 1 can be miniaturized.

[0062] When the lever portion 223 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 20 with the protruding portion 224 as the rotation center, as shown in FIG. 21, the engagement between the engaging hole portion 225 and the engaging protrusion portion 201 is released.

[0063] In a state where the engagement between the engaging hole portion 225 and the engaging protrusion portion 201 is released, by moving the mating connector 200 forward, the connection between the electric connector 1 and the mating connector 200 can be released.

[0064] As described above, according to the present embodiment, a pair of arm portions 221 extending rearward with an interval from the front end portion of the main body portion 21 with respect to the main body portion 21, a connecting portion 222 connecting the pair of arm portions 221 at the rear end portions of the pair of arm portions 221, and a lever portion 223 extending forward from the connecting portion 222 between the pair of arm portions 221 and engaging with the mating connector 200 inserted into the insertion portion 212. By having the elastic portion 22, it is possible to secure an elastic deformation amount of the elastic portion 22 that engages with the mating connector 200 without increasing the size and sufficiently elastically deform the elastic portion 22, and it is possible to suppress the restriction of the degree of freedom of the configuration of the components arranged around.

[0065] The type, arrangement, number, etc. of the members of the present invention are not limited to those in the foregoing embodiments, and it goes without saying that the components can be appropriately changed within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention, such as appropriately replacing them with those having the same functions and effects.

[0066] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the locking member 3 is provided, but not limited thereto, and the locking member 3 may not be provided.

Industrial Applicability

[0067] The electrical connector according to the present invention is suitable for connecting a cable and a mating connector.

Explanation of Signs

[0068] 1 Electrical connector 2 Housing 3 Locking member 21 Body part 21a Upper wall part 21b Left side wall part 22 Elastic part 23 Hood part 31 Support part 32 Operating part 33 Guided part 34 Contact part 35 Bottom face part 100 Cable 200 Mating connector 201 Engaging projection 209 Locking position restricting part 210 Non-locking position restricting part 211 Holding part 212 Insertion part 213 Guide part 214 Side wall part 215 Window hole part 216 Notch part 217 Opposing wall part 218 Partition part 219 Fitting part 221 Arm part 222 Connection part 223 Lever part Upper part of 223a Lower part of 223b Middle part of 223c Protruding part 224 Engagement hole part 225 Retention part 231

Claims

1. An electrical connector for connecting a terminal assembly and a mating connector, a main body portion including a holding portion for holding the terminal assembly, and an insertion portion that communicates with the holding portion and into which the mating connector is inserted and fitted, an elastic portion provided on the main body portion and capable of elastic deformation, having, the elastic portion includes a pair of arm portions that are spaced from the main body portion and extend in a direction opposite to the fitting direction from a position on an end side in the fitting direction of the main body portion with respect to the mating connector, a connecting portion that connects the pair of arm portions to each other at positions on the end side in the opposite direction of the pair of arm portions, and a lever portion that extends in the fitting direction from the connecting portion between the pair of arm portions and engages with the mating connector inserted into the insertion portion. An electrical connector characterized by the above.

2. having a locking member disposed between the main body portion and the elastic portion, the elastic portion when the lever portion and the mating connector are engaged, the engagement between the lever portion and the mating connector is released by the connecting portion moving in a direction approaching the main body portion, the locking member is movable between a locking position that restricts the connecting portion from moving in the approaching direction and a non-locking position that allows the connecting portion to move in the approaching direction. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. the main body portion includes a guide portion extending along the fitting direction or the opposite direction, the locking member includes a guided portion that is movably engaged with the guide portion in the fitting direction or the opposite direction and whose movement in the opposing direction of the pair of arm portions is restricted by the guide portion, and moves to the non-locking position or the locking position by moving in the fitting direction or the opposite direction. The electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. the locking member moves to the non-locking position or the locking position by moving in the fitting direction or the opposite direction, the connecting portion abuts against the locking member moving in the opposite direction to prevent the locking member from dropping off in the opposite direction. The electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

5. the locking member It includes an operating part that is operated when moving between the locked position and the unlocked position, and moves to the unlocked position or the locked position by moving in the fitting direction or the opposite direction. The moving range of the operating part when the locking member moves between the locked position and the unlocked position, as viewed from the direction approaching the operating part, is within the range of the lever part as viewed from the approaching direction. The electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that.

6. The lever part is Provided between a first end in the fitting direction and a second end in the opposite direction, and includes a protruding part that protrudes in the approaching direction and faces the locking member, and an engaging part that is provided between the protruding part and the first end and engages with the mating connector. The elastic part is When the connecting part moves in the approaching direction, the protruding part abuts against the locking member and rotates around the protruding part, thereby releasing the engagement between the engaging part and the mating connector. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that.

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