Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of suppressing a strange sound generated by collision with a housing due to movement of a detection member with respect to the housing in a fitting direction, at an actual locking position.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a detection member 40 that can relatively move in a fitting direction and a separating direction with respect to a housing 20 between a temporal locking position and an actual locking position when a fitting state is a complete fitting state; and a regulation mechanism provided on the housing 20 to regulate the movement of the detection member 40 from the actual locking position to the temporal locking position when the fitting state is the complete fitting state and the detection member 40 is at the actual locking position. The detection member 40 has: a detection member operation part 45 protruded from a detection member base part 41 toward a locking wall part 25a side in the opposing direction, being opposed to the locking wall part 25a in the fitting direction at the actual locking position; and a projection part 49 formed so as to protrude from the detection member operation part 45 in the fitting direction, and abutting on the locking wall part 25a in the fitting direction at the actual locking position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a connector, there is known a technique for allowing an operator or the like to determine whether or not the fitting state with a mating connector is complete. For example, the connector includes a detection member that can move relative to the housing between a temporary locking position and a main locking position (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The detection member cannot be moved from the temporary locking position to the main locking position unless the fitting state between the connector and the mating connector is complete (i.e., in a so-called fitting release state), and can be moved from the temporary locking position to the main locking position if the fitting state is complete (i.e., in a so-called complete fitting state). An operator or the like can determine whether or not the fitting state between the connectors is complete based on the relative positional relationship of the detection member with respect to the housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a contact state where a locking portion provided on the housing and a locked portion provided on the mating connector are in contact in the fitting direction, a gap that allows the detection member to move relative to the housing is generated in the fitting direction between the housing and the detection member. The existence of such a gap may cause the detection member to move in the fitting direction with respect to the housing due to external vibration, and the detection member may collide with the housing to generate an impact sound (abnormal sound), so there is room for improvement.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of suppressing abnormal noise generated by a detection member colliding with a housing when the detection member moves in a fitting direction with respect to the housing at the main locking position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a connector according to the present invention includes a terminal, a housing in which the terminal is accommodated and held, and when the fitting state with a mating connector is a complete fitting state, a locking portion is locked to a locked portion provided on the mating housing so that the mating housing can be engaged and disengaged, and a detection member assembled to the housing and capable of relatively moving in a fitting direction and a detachment direction with respect to the housing between a temporary locking position and a main locking position when the fitting state is the complete fitting state, and a restricting mechanism provided on at least one of the housing and the mating housing for restricting the detection member from moving from the main locking position to the temporary locking position when the fitting state is the complete fitting state and the detection member is at the main locking position. The housing has a main body portion, a locking wall portion facing the main body portion in a facing direction which is a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction and having a housing-side locking portion located between the main body portion and the locking wall portion at the main locking position, and an accommodation space portion formed between the main body portion and the locking wall portion and accommodating the detection member at the main locking position. The detection member has a detection member base portion, a detection member operation portion protruding from the detection member base portion toward the locking wall portion side in the facing direction and facing the locking wall portion in the fitting direction at the main locking position, and a protrusion portion protruding from the detection member operation portion in the fitting direction and contacting the locking wall portion in the fitting direction at the main locking position.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the connector of the present invention, at the main locking position, the detection member moves in the fitting direction with respect to the housing, thereby suppressing abnormal noise generated by colliding with the housing, and achieving the effect of being able to do so.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments. That is, the constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0010] [Embodiment] The connector 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied to, for example, a wire harness used in an automobile or the like. Here, the connector 1 is a connection mechanism for connecting a plurality of electric wires W constituting a wire harness, and is used, for example, in an airbag circuit. The connector 1 includes a terminal (not shown), a housing 20 that houses and holds the terminal, and a detection member 40 that is partially housed in the housing 20.

[0011] Note that the X direction in FIGS. 1 to 11 is the insertion and removal direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector C in the present embodiment, and is the front-rear direction of the housing 20 and the mating housing Ch. The Y direction is the arrangement direction of both connectors in the present embodiment, is orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction, and is the width direction of the housing 20 and the mating housing Ch. The Z direction is the opposing direction of both connectors in the present embodiment, and is a direction orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction and the arrangement direction. The X1 direction is the fitting direction of the connector 1, and the X2 direction is the detachment direction of the connector 1. The Z1 direction is the first direction of both connectors, and the Z2 direction is the second direction of both connectors. When the Z direction is the vertical direction, the Z1 direction is the upward direction and the Z2 direction is the downward direction. Each direction used in the following description represents the direction in a state where each part is assembled to each other unless otherwise specified.

[0012] The terminal is formed into a predetermined shape by a conductive material such as metal, and the core wire at the end of the electric wire W is physically and electrically connected in a predetermined connection form such as crimping or welding. The terminal has a terminal connection portion to which the mating terminal of the mating connector C is connected, and a wire connection portion to which the core wire of the electric wire W is connected. In the present embodiment, the terminal of the connector 1 is formed as a female terminal, and the mating terminal of the mating connector C is formed as a male terminal. However, as long as the terminal and the mating terminal are physically and electrically connected after being fitted to each other, either of them may be a female terminal or a male terminal.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the housing 20 is formed into a predetermined shape by an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and has a main body portion 21, a hood 22, an annular space portion 23, an operation groove 24, a housing space portion 25, a regulation mechanism side locking portion 26, and a locking projection 27.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the main body portion 21 is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers 21a for accommodating and holding a plurality of terminals. Each terminal accommodation chamber 21a is formed to accommodate and hold one terminal at a time, and to accommodate and hold the terminals one by one along the insertion and removal direction. The terminal accommodation chamber 21a has an opening on the fitting direction side, and through this opening, the terminal connection portion of the inner terminal is exposed to the outside. The mating terminal is inserted into the terminal accommodation chamber 21a from the opening in the connector fitting process and is fitted to the terminal connection portion of the terminal. In this terminal accommodation chamber 21a, there is also an opening on the detachment direction side, and the electric wire W connected to the wire connection portion of the terminal inside is pulled out to the outside from the opening on the detachment direction side. Each terminal accommodation chamber 21a of the present embodiment is arranged in a lattice pattern inside the cubic main body portion 21 arranged inside the rectangular tube-shaped hood 22, and protrudes toward the detachment direction side from the hood 22.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the hood 22 is cylindrical and is formed such that the main body 21 is disposed inward. The hood 22 is arranged such that its cylindrical axis direction is along the insertion and extraction direction. The hood 22 has an opening 22a on the fitting direction side. The mating connector C is inserted from the opening 22a. The hood 22 in the present embodiment is formed in a square tube shape, and terminal accommodation chambers 21a are arranged in a lattice pattern inside the cubic main body 21 disposed inward, and the terminal accommodation chambers 21a project toward the separation direction side.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the annular space 23 is formed between the main body 21 and the hood 22, and during the connector fitting process between the connector 1 and the mating connector C, the cylindrical mating hood Chf of the mating housing Ch of the mating connector C is accommodated so as to wrap the main body 21 inward. A plurality of mating terminals are accommodated and held inside the mating hood Chf.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation groove 24 is formed so as to expose a part of the detection member 40 outward, and is provided for an operator or the like to perform an operation on the detection member 40. The operation groove 24 has an operation space 24a, side walls 24a1, and a movable space 24b. The operation space 24a is a space portion in the operation groove 24 that exposes the detection member 40 outward and is used when an operator or the like performs an operation. The operation space 24a has side walls 24a1. The side walls 24a1 are formed to face each other in the arrangement direction and form a part of the outer wall of the housing 20. The movable space 24b is a space provided between the detection member 40 and the outer peripheral surface of the main body 21 in the operation groove 24 and communicates with the annular space 23 on the fitting direction side.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the accommodation space portion 25 is formed to be arranged on the fitting direction side with respect to the operation space portion 24a and communicates with the fitting direction side of the operation space portion 24a. The accommodation space portion 25 is formed between the main body portion 21 and the locking wall portion 25a and accommodates the detection member 40 at the main locking position described later. The accommodation space portion 25 has a locking wall portion 25a and side wall portions 25b. The locking wall portion 25a is formed to face upward with respect to the main body portion 21 on the side opposite to the annular space portion 23 side in the facing direction and accommodates a part of the detection member 40. The locking wall portion 25a faces the main body portion 21 in the facing direction, and the housing-side locking portion 31b is located between the locking wall portion 25a and the main body portion 21 at the main locking position described later. The side wall portions 25b connect both ends of the locking wall portion 25a in the arrangement direction to the main body portion 21 and are formed in a pair facing each other in the arrangement direction. Further, the locking wall portion 25a and the side wall portions 25b form a part of the outer wall of the housing 20.

[0019] The regulation mechanism side locking portion 26 constitutes a regulation mechanism described later. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 10, and 11, the regulation mechanism side locking portion 26 projects from each of the pair of side wall portions 25b of the accommodation space portion 25 and is formed in a pair facing each other in the arrangement direction. One regulation mechanism side locking portion 26 is formed to project toward the other regulation mechanism side locking portion 26.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the locking protrusions 27 project from the pair of side walls 24a1 of the operation space portion 24a and are formed in a pair facing each other in the arrangement direction. One locking protrusion 27 is formed to project toward the other locking protrusion 27. In the present embodiment, the locking protrusion 27 is formed upward at the end portion on the separation direction side among both end portions of the side wall 24a1 in the insertion and removal direction.

[0021] Here, a state where the connector 1 and the mating connector C have finished inserting into each other and a physical and electrical connection is established between the self-terminal and the mating terminal is called a fully mated state. On the other hand, before reaching the fully mated state in the connector mating process, or after the fully mated state in the connector release process, the mating state between the connector 1 and the mating connector C (hereinafter, also referred to as "between connectors") is called a mating release state.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 5, 7 to 11, between the connector 1 and the mating connector C, there is provided a holding mechanism 30 that engages the housing 20 and the mating housing Ch with each other and holds the fully mated state when they are in the fully mated state. The holding mechanism 30 is a so-called locking mechanism between connectors, and when the mating state between the connector 1 and the mating connector C is the fully mated state, it engages the housing 20 and the mating housing Ch with each other and holds the fully mated state. The holding mechanism 30 consists of a lock arm 31 and a locked mechanism 32.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock arm 31 is formed to be integrated with one of the four outer peripheral surfaces of the main body portion 21, and by being locked to the mating housing Ch, it holds the fully mated state. The lock arm 31 is formed such that a pair of side walls 24a1 sandwich the lock arm 31. Also, the lock arm 31 is fixed to the main body portion 21, has flexibility, and allows the detection member 40 to be attached. Further, the lock arm 31 has a lock arm base 31a, a housing-side locking portion 31b, a release lever portion 31c, a support portion 31d, a guide rail 31f, and a lock arm protrusion 31g.

[0024] One end of the lock arm base 31a on the separation direction side is bent toward the second direction side in the facing direction and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 21 on the first direction side in the facing direction, and the other end on the fitting direction side is formed to extend in the fitting direction.

[0025] The housing-side locking portion 31b is formed at the other end of the locking arm base portion 31a on the fitting direction side, and is formed so as to face the locking wall portion 25a in the second direction. The housing-side locking portion 31b locks to the housing-side locked portion 32a provided on the mating housing Ch, and locks the mating housing Ch to the housing 20 so that the locking can be released.

[0026] The release lever portion 31c has one end on the fitting direction side connected to the locking arm base portion 31a, and the other end on the release direction side is formed to extend in the release direction. The release lever portion 31c is formed in a semi-arrowhead shape in which both side walls of the locking arm 31 extend in the fitting direction, and constitutes these side walls. Further, the release lever portion 31c has a support portion 31d.

[0027] In the state of the housing 20 alone, a gap is formed between the support portion 31d and the main body portion 21. The support portion 31d faces the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 21 in the facing direction, and is formed so as to overlap with one end of the locking arm base portion 31a on the fitting direction side when viewed from the arrangement direction.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 3, 10, and 11, the guide rails 31f each project toward each side wall 24a1, extend in the release direction, and a part on the release direction side is formed so as to go in a direction away from the main body portion 21. The pair of guide rails 31f in the present embodiment are provided at positions facing each side wall 24a1 in the release lever portion 31c.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the locking arm projecting portions 31g are positioned so as to be sandwiched between the main body portion 21 and the locking projections 27, project from the pair of side walls 24a1 respectively, and are formed in a pair facing each other in the arrangement direction. The locking arm projecting portions 31g are formed in a cubic shape. The locking arm projecting portions 31g in the present embodiment are formed at the end portions on the release direction side of the release lever portion 31c.

[0030] The locked mechanism 32 is provided on the mating housing Ch and is formed to be releasably locked by being locked to the housing-side locking portion 31b. The locked mechanism 32 has a housing-side locked portion 32a and a release operation portion 32b.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the housing-side locked portion 32a has a shape protruding from the outer wall surface of the mating hood Chf and is formed so as to face the housing-side locking portion 31b in the insertion / extraction direction during the connector fitting process. The housing-side locked portion 32a is formed on the outer wall surface of the mating hood Chf so as to be located on the separation direction side from the housing-side locking portion 31b in the fully fitted state. The housing-side locking portion 31b and the housing-side locked portion 32a may be in contact with each other in the insertion / extraction direction or may be spaced apart in the insertion / extraction direction in the fully fitted state. However, when spacing is provided, the spacing is set such that the fully fitted state is not impaired when the space is clogged and the housing-side locking portion 31b and the housing-side locked portion 32a come into contact with each other. The illustrated housing-side locked portion 32a is formed in a cubic shape.

[0032] The release operation portion 32b constitutes a regulation mechanism described later. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the release operation portion 32b is a protrusion protruding from the outer wall surface of the mating hood Chf and is formed so as to face the housing-side locking portion 31b in the insertion / extraction direction during the connector fitting process. The release operation portion 32b is formed on the outer wall surface of the mating hood Chf so as to be located on the fitting direction side from the housing-side locking portion 31b in the fully fitted state. The housing-side locking portion 31b and the release operation portion 32b may be in contact with each other in the insertion / extraction direction or may be spaced apart in the insertion / extraction direction in the fully fitted state. The illustrated release operation portion 32b is formed in a cubic shape and has a slope formed on the fitting direction side.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the connector 1 of the present embodiment is formed to be relatively movable with respect to the housing 20 in the insertion / removal direction, and has a detection member 40 for an operator or the like to determine a fully engaged state with the mating connector C. The detection member 40 is attached to the lock arm 31. The detection member 40 is disposed closer to the outside of the housing 20 than the lock arm 31, and is assembled to the housing 20 so that at least the detachment direction side is disposed in the operation space portion 24a of the operation groove 24. Accordingly, in the operation space portion 24a, at least the detachment direction side of the detection member 40 is exposed to the outside. In the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the operation space portion 24a is also used as a space for the relative movement operation of the detection member 40. For this reason, in the detection member 40, the detachment direction side is used as an operation portion for the relative movement operation.

[0034] The detection member 40 can be relatively moved (detection member movement step) between a temporary locking position and a main locking position with respect to the housing 20. The temporary locking position is the position of the detection member 40 with respect to the housing 20 when the fitting state between the connector 1 and the mating connector C is in a fitting release state, and is a position where the detection member 40 is not located between the locking wall portion 25a and the housing side locking portion 31b. The main locking position is the position of the detection member 40 with respect to the housing 20 when the fitting state between the connector 1 and the mating connector C is in a fully engaged state, and is a position where at least a part of the detection member 40 is located between the locking wall portion 25a and the housing side locking portion 31b. The detection member 40 in the present embodiment is capable of relatively moving in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the housing 20, reaches the main locking position by relatively moving in the fitting direction from the temporary locking position, and reaches the temporary locking position by relatively moving in the detachment direction from the main locking position. The detection member 40 has a detection member base portion 41, a detection arm 42, a detection member wall portion 43, a protruding portion 44, a detection member operation portion 45, a contact surface 46, a rib 47, a regulation mechanism side locked portion 48, and a protrusion 49.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, after the detection member 40 is attached to the housing 20, the detection member base 41 is formed to be arranged at an interval with respect to the lock arm base 31a. As shown in FIG. 6, the detection member base 41 may be, for example, a rectangular single-piece shape with one plane facing the lock arm base 31a in the second direction, and various notches, grooves, etc. may be formed in the single-piece portion.

[0036] The detection arm 42 constitutes a regulation mechanism described later. As shown in FIG. 6, the detection arm 42 protrudes from the central portion in the arrangement direction of the detection member base 41 formed in a U shape toward the fitting direction, and is formed to have flexibility with respect to the detection member base 41. The detection arm 42 has a tip portion 42a, and when the detection member 40 is attached to the lock arm 31, the tip portion 42a is formed to face the housing-side locking portion 31b in the insertion and extraction direction.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of detection member wall portions 43 are formed to protrude in the opposite direction from both ends in the arrangement direction of the detection member base 41. The detection member wall portions 43 are formed toward the respective side wall 24a1 sides and are formed to face each other in the arrangement direction. Each detection member wall portion 43 has a protruding portion 44. The protruding portions 44 are formed to protrude from one detection member wall portion 43 toward the other detection member wall portion 43. The protruding portion 44 in the present embodiment is formed at the end portion on the second direction side in the opposite direction of each detection member wall portion 43, and is formed and arranged so as to be able to face the guide rail 31f of the lock arm 31 in the arrangement direction in the detection member movement step. The protruding portion 44 guides the relative movement of the detection member 40 with respect to the housing 20 in the insertion and extraction direction by moving in the insertion and extraction direction while facing the guide rail 31f in the opposite direction.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the detection member operation portion 45 is formed in the operation space portion 24a so as to project from the detection member base portion 41 toward the first direction side in the facing direction. The detection member operation portion 45 projects from the detection member base portion 41 toward the lock wall portion 25a side in the facing direction and faces the lock wall portion 25a in the fitting direction at the main locking position. It is used when an operator or the like performs relative movement of the detection member 40. The detection member operation portion 45 projects outward from the lock wall portion 25a of the housing 20 and has a release operation surface 45a and a fitting operation surface 45b. The release operation surface 45a is located on the fitting direction side and is formed to face the separation direction, and the fitting operation surface 45b is located on the separation direction side and is formed to face the fitting direction. The detection member operation portion 45 is formed so as to face the main body portion 21 with the support portion 31d interposed therebetween and to be located on the separation direction side from the housing side locking portion 31b at the temporary locking position.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, the contact surface 46 is a plane that intersects the fitting direction when the detection member 40 is attached to the lock arm 31, and is formed so as to face each locking projection 27 from the fitting direction side. In the present embodiment, a pair of contact surfaces 46 are formed with the detection member operation portion 45 interposed therebetween in the arrangement direction.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the rib 47 is located on the separation direction side of each contact surface 46 and is provided so as to extend in the separation direction from an intermediate position in the facing direction of each contact surface 46. In the present embodiment, a pair of ribs 47 are formed with the detection member operation portion 45 interposed therebetween in the arrangement direction. The rib 47 extends in the separation direction from the end portion on the second direction side of each contact surface 46 and is formed to be located on the second direction side from the contact surface 46 when viewed from the separation direction.

[0041] The regulated body side engaged portion 48 constitutes the regulating mechanism and is formed on the fitting direction side of each detecting member wall portion 43 of the detecting member 40 as shown in FIG. 6. The pair of regulated body side engaged portions 48 protrude so as to face the respective side wall portions 25b of the housing 20, and are formed and arranged so as to face the regulating mechanism side locking portion 26 of the housing 20 in the fitting direction in the detecting member moving step. Each regulated body side engaged portion 48 abuts against the regulating mechanism side locking portion 26 of the side wall portion 25b in the arrangement direction at the main locking position. Each regulated body side engaged portion 48 has an opposing surface 48a facing the respective side wall portion 25b of the housing 20, and a contact surface 48b adjacent to the opposing surface 48a and inclined from the opposing surface 48a toward the detecting member wall portion 43 side in the separating direction. As shown in FIG. 11, each opposing surface 48a faces the respective side wall portion 25b in the arrangement direction and the arrangement direction at the main locking position. As shown in FIG. 11, each contact surface 48b abuts against the corner portion of the step between the side wall portion 25b and the regulating mechanism side locking portion 26 in the insertion / removal direction at the main locking position. Here, the regulating mechanism is provided in the housing 20 and regulates the movement of the detecting member 40 from the main locking position to the temporary locking position when the fitting state is the complete fitting state and the detecting member 40 is at the main locking position.

[0042] The protruding portion 49 is formed to protrude in the fitting direction from the detecting member operating portion 45 and abuts against the locking wall portion 25a in the fitting direction at the main locking position. As shown in FIG. 6, the protruding portions 49 of the present embodiment are formed in a pair in the arrangement direction with the detecting arm 42 interposed therebetween when viewed from the first direction in the opposing direction. The protruding portion 49 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the insertion / removal direction and the opposing direction. The protruding portion 49 protrudes from the release operation surface 45a in the fitting direction, and the end portion in the second direction in the opposing direction is connected to the detecting member base portion 41.

[0043] Next, the insertion and extraction direction of the detection member 40 with respect to the housing 20 and the movement restriction in the first direction at the main locking position will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, a restriction mechanism is provided between the detection member 40 and the housing 20 to restrict the movement of the detection member 40 with respect to the housing 20 in the insertion and extraction direction and in the first direction at the main locking position. This restriction mechanism restricts the movement of the detection member 40 in the separation direction by each restriction mechanism side locking portion 26 of the housing 20 and each restriction mechanism side locked portion 48 of the detection member 40, and restricts the movement of the detection member 40 in the fitting direction by the protrusion 49 of the detection member 40 and the locking wall portion 25a of the housing 20, and restricts the movement of the detection member 40 in the first direction by the locking wall portion 25a of the housing 20 and each detection member wall portion 43 of the detection member 40.

[0044] Next, the configuration for restricting the movement of the detection member 40 in the separation direction at the main locking position will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, in the detection member 40, each restriction mechanism side locked portion 48 is located on the fitting direction side of each restriction mechanism side locking portion 26, and each restriction mechanism side locking portion 26 and each restriction mechanism side locked portion 48 are in a state of facing each other in the insertion and extraction direction. Here, the movement of each restriction mechanism side locked portion 48 in the separation direction is restricted by the step between each restriction mechanism side locking portion 26 and each side wall portion 25b. At the main locking position, the movement of the detection member 40 in the separation direction with respect to the lock arm 31 (housing 20) is restricted by each restriction mechanism side locking portion 26 and each restriction mechanism side locked portion 48. At that time, each restriction mechanism side locking portion 26 and each restriction mechanism side locked portion 48 are in contact with each other in the insertion and extraction direction. For example, even if the detection member 40 moves in one direction in the arrangement direction by an external force, the restriction mechanism side locked portion 48 follows the detection member 40 so as not to separate from the restriction mechanism side locking portion 26 by the reaction force of the other detection member wall portion 43. That is, even if the detection member 40 and the housing 20 behave differently in the arrangement direction, the restriction mechanism side locked portion 48 presses to maintain the contact state with each restriction mechanism side locking portion 26.

[0045] Next, a configuration for restricting the movement of the detection member 40 in the fitting direction at the main locking position will be described. In the detection member 40, as shown in FIG. 9, the detection member operation portion 45 is located on the separation direction side from the locking wall portion 25a, and the locking wall portion 25a and the protrusion portion 49 are opposed to each other in the insertion and removal direction. Here, the movement of the detection member operation portion 45 in the fitting direction is restricted by each locking wall portion 25a. The locking wall portion 25a and the protrusion portion 49 restrict the movement of the detection member 40 in the fitting direction with respect to the locking arm 31 (housing 20) at the main locking position. The locking wall portion 25a and the protrusion portion 49 are in contact with each other in the insertion and removal direction at that time.

[0046] Further, the detection member 40 can be relatively moved with respect to the housing 20 between the main locking position and the fixed position. The fixed position is a position before the fitting state becomes a complete fitting state, where the detection member 40 is held by the housing 20 in a state where the detection member 40 is attached to the locking arm 31. The fixed position in the present embodiment is also the position when the detection member 40 is assembled to the housing 20. For this reason, the state before the connector 1 and the mating connector C are inserted into each other is also included in the fixed position.

[0047] Next, the fitting of the connector 1 and the mating connector C will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, with the detection member 40 in the fixed position, the connector 1 is moved in the fitting direction so that the mating housing Ch is inserted into the annular space portion 23 of the housing 20. As the connector 1 moves in the fitting direction, the housing-side locking portion 31b and the housing-side locked portion 32a come into contact with each other. After the housing-side locking portion 31b and the housing-side locked portion 32a come into contact, as the connector 1 continues to move in the fitting direction, the housing-side locking portion 31b is pushed in the first direction by the housing-side locked portion 32a, and the housing-side locked portion 32a gets over the housing-side locking portion 31b until it reaches the position of the fully-fitted state while bending the lock arm 31. Also, after an operator or the like bends the housing-side locking portion 31b of the lock arm 31 in the first direction, the connector 1 may continue to move in the fitting direction to move the housing-side locked portion 32a to the position of the fully-fitted state.

[0048] After the housing-side locked portion 32a pushes the housing-side locking portion 31b in the first direction, as the connector 1 continues to move in the fitting direction, the tip portion 42a of the detection arm 42 comes into contact with the housing-side locked portion 32a. Then, as the movement in the fitting direction progresses, the housing-side locked portion 32a applies a force in the first direction to the tip portion 42a. At this time, in the detection member 40, the detection arm 42 starts to bend with the base on the detachment direction side as the fulcrum.

[0049] At the position of the fully-fitted state, as shown in FIG. 9, the bent lock arm 31 returns to its original position, and the housing-side locking portion 31b and the housing-side locked portion 32a face each other in the insertion / removal direction. In the holding mechanism 30, the removal operation between the connector 1 and the mating connector C is suppressed, so it is held in the fully-fitted state. Also, in the detection member 40, the detection arm 42 bends until the tip portion 42a can get over the housing-side locking portion 31b.

[0050] In the lock arm 31, as shown in FIG. 9, by moving in the fitting direction to a position where a complete fitting state is achieved, the housing-side locking portion 31b approaches the release operation portion 32b. Between the housing-side locking portion 31b and the release operation portion 32b, by reducing the distance at the position where the complete fitting state is achieved, the movement of the housing-side locking portion 31b in the fitting direction side is locked by the end portion of the release operation portion 32b. Using the housing-side locking portion 31b and the end portion of the release operation portion 32b, the movement of the lock arm 31 in the fitting direction side in the complete fitting state is restricted.

[0051] The relative movement of the detection member 40 from the fixed position to the main locking position will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, in the complete fitting state, with the detection member 40 in the fixed position state, by moving the tip portion 42a in the fitting direction side beyond the housing-side locking portion 31b, the detection member 40 relatively moves with respect to the housing 20 from the fixed position to the main locking position. As a result, the detection arm 42 is positioned between the locking wall portion 25a and the housing-side locking portion 31b. Since the tip portion 42a moves away from the release operation portion 32b while the detection member 40 moves from the state where the locking state of the tip portion 42a is released to the main locking position, the deflection of the detection arm 42 is gradually eliminated.

[0052] Next, the relative movement of the detection member 40 from the main locking position to the temporary locking position will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, with the detection member 40 in the main locking position state, when the operator pulls the release operation surface 45a in the separation direction with a finger to move the detection member in the separation direction, the tip portion 42a comes into contact with the release operation portion 32b as it progresses. And as the release progresses, the release operation portion 32b applies a force in the first direction to the tip portion 42a. At this time, in the detection member 40, the detection arm 42 starts to deflect with the base on the separation direction side as a fulcrum. In this detection member 40, as the release further progresses, as shown in FIG. 8, the detection arm 42 deflects until the tip portion 42a can cross over the release operation portion 32b. By moving the tip portion 42a beyond the release operation portion 32b in the separation direction side, the detection member 40 relatively moves with respect to the housing 20 from the main locking position to the temporary locking position.

[0053] The release of the fully engaged state in the connector 1 and the mating connector C will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, with the detection member 40 in the main locking position, when the operator continues to pull the release operation surface 45a in the separating direction, the support portion 31d of the lock arm 31 is pushed toward the second direction side in the facing direction and abuts against the main body portion 21 of the housing 20. After the abutment, by further pulling the release operation surface 45a, the release lever portion 31c of the lock arm 31 rotates about the fulcrum, which is the contact point between the support portion 31d and the main body portion 21, due to the lever action, so that the detection member operation portion 45 moves in the separating direction and the second direction. As a result, the housing-side locking portion 31b connected to one end on the fitting direction side of the release lever portion 31c deflects in the first direction, so that the housing-side locking portion 31b and the housing-side locked portion 32a do not face each other in the insertion / removal direction. Therefore, by continuing to pull the release operation surface 45a, the fully engaged state of the connector 1 and the mating connector C can be released and the main locking release state can be achieved. Note that the detection member operation portion 45 faces the main body portion 21 with the support portion 31d interposed therebetween and is located on the separating direction side from the housing-side locking portion 31b in the semi-engaged state.

[0054] The connector 1 of the present embodiment described above includes a detection member 40 capable of relative movement in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the housing 20, and a regulation mechanism that regulates the movement of the detection member 40 from the main locking position to the temporary locking position when the engaged state is the fully engaged state and the detection member 40 is in the main locking position. The detection member 40 has a detection member operation portion 45 that faces the locking wall portion 25a in the fitting direction at the main locking position, and a protrusion portion 49 that abuts against the locking wall portion 25a in the fitting direction at the main locking position.

[0055] With the above configuration, when the housing-side locking portion 31b and the housing-side locked portion 32a come into contact in the fitting direction and the protrusion 49 abuts against the locking wall portion 25a in the fitting direction, the movement of the detection member 40 in the fitting direction and the detachment direction is restricted. Therefore, at this locking position, it is possible to suppress the abnormal noise generated by the detection member 40 moving in the fitting direction and colliding with the housing 20 when the detection member 40 moves relative to the housing 20 in the fitting direction.

[0056] Further, in the connector 1 of the present embodiment, each locked portion 48 on the restriction mechanism side of the detection member 40 abuts against the locking portion 26 on the restriction mechanism side of each side wall portion 25b of the opposing housing 20 at this locking position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the contact surface 48b of each locked portion 48 on the restriction mechanism side abuts against the corner portion of the step between the side wall portion 25b and the locking portion 26 on the restriction mechanism side in the insertion / removal direction and the arrangement direction at this locking position. As a result, the detection member 40 in the housing 20 is pressed in the arrangement direction by the pair of locking portions 26 on the restriction mechanism side. In addition to restricting the movement of the detection member 40 in the detachment direction by the restriction mechanism (release operation portion 32b, detection arm 42), the movement of the detection member 40 in the arrangement direction is restricted by the contact between the locked portion 48 on the restriction mechanism side and the locking portion 26 on the restriction mechanism side. As a result, at this locking position, it is possible to suppress the abnormal noise generated by the detection member 40 moving in the arrangement direction and colliding with the housing 20 when the detection member 40 moves relative to the housing 20 in the arrangement direction.

[0057] Further, in the connector 1 of the present embodiment, a part of the release operation surface 45a of the detection member operation portion 45 is located outside the locking wall portion 25a of the housing 20 at this locking position, and the protrusion 49 protrudes from the release operation surface 45a toward the locking wall portion 25a. As a result, the operator can visually confirm that the protrusion 49 is in contact with the locking wall portion 25a at this locking position. As a result, the operator can easily grasp that the detection member 40 is at this locking position rather than the temporary locking position.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0058] 1 Connector 20 Housing 21 Main body part 25 Accommodation space part 25a Locking wall part 25b Side wall part 26 Regulation mechanism side locking part 31b Housing side locking part 32a Housing side part to be locked 40 Detection member 41 Base part of detection member 42 Detection arm 45 Operation part of detection member 48 Regulation mechanism side part to be locked 49 Protrusion C Counterpart connector Ch Counterpart housing

Claims

1. A terminal, a housing in which the terminal is accommodated and held, and when the fitting state with the mating connector is in a fully-fitted state, the housing-side engaging portion is locked to the mating-housing-side engaged portion provided on the mating housing so as to be releasable, thereby engaging the mating housing, a detection member assembled to the housing and capable of relatively moving in the fitting direction and the detachment direction with respect to the housing between a temporary locking position and a main locking position when the fitting state is in the fully-fitted state, a restricting mechanism provided on at least one of the housing and the mating housing, and when the fitting state is in the fully-fitted state and the detection member is in the main locking position, restricting the movement of the detection member from the main locking position to the temporary locking position, and comprising: The housing includes: a main body portion, a locking wall portion facing in a facing direction that is orthogonal to the fitting direction and facing the main body portion, and the housing-side engaging portion is located between the main body portion and the locking wall portion in the main locking position, a housing space portion formed between the main body portion and the locking wall portion and accommodating the detection member in the main locking position, The detection member includes: a detection member base portion, a detection member operation portion protruding from the detection member base portion toward the locking wall portion side in the facing direction and facing the locking wall portion in the fitting direction in the main locking position, a protrusion portion protruding from the detection member operation portion in the fitting direction and abutting against the locking wall portion in the fitting direction in the main locking position, A connector characterized by the above.

2. The housing further includes: a pair of side wall portions connecting both ends of the locking wall portion in an arrangement direction orthogonal to the fitting direction and the facing direction to the main body portion, The restricting mechanism includes: a pair of restricting mechanism-side engaging portions provided on each of the side wall portions and facing each other in the arrangement direction, One of the pair of restricting mechanism-side engaging portions is formed by protruding toward the other restricting mechanism-side engaging portion, The detection member further includes: a pair of detection member wall portions provided at both ends of the detection member base portion in the arrangement direction and facing each other in the arrangement direction, a pair of restricting mechanism-side engaged portions respectively formed on the fitting direction side of each of the detection member wall portions, The pair of restricting mechanism-side engaged portions are: At the main locking position, each of the side wall portions faces the corresponding side wall portion and protrudes toward the opposing side wall portion. Each of the restricted mechanism side locked portions contacts the restricted mechanism side locking portion in the arrangement direction at the main locking position. The connector according to claim 1.

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