Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can prevent a mating lock arm from bending when used without a CPA member.SOLUTION: A housing 11a in a connector body 11 of a connector 1 includes a mating lock arm 112d and a restriction protrusion 112f. The mating lock arm 112d is capable of flexibly bending to a CPA moving surface 112a. When mating with a mating connector, the mating lock arm 112d locks a portion of the mating connector to a lock portion provided in the middle portion, while bending the middle portion. The restriction protrusion 112f protrudes from the middle portion of the mating lock arm 112d towards the CPA moving surface 112a with a protrusion amount that does not prevent the bending deformation of the mating lock arm 112d during mating. When excessive bending deformation that exceeds the bending deformation during mating is likely to occur, a tip 112f-1 comes into contact with the CPA moving surface 112a to restrict excessive bending deformation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector to which a CPA (Connector Position Assurance) member for ensuring fitting with a mating connector can be attached to a connector body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a connector to which a CPA member for ensuring fitting with a mating connector can be attached to a connector body is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The CPA member of this Patent Document 1 is attached to the housing in a temporarily locked state, and movement along the fitting direction is prohibited before fitting. Then, the prohibition of the CPA member is released by fitting the connector body and the mating connector, and the member becomes movable. At the completion of fitting, the operator moves the movable CPA member to shift it to the fully locked state. In this connector, since the CPA member is in the fully locked state, fitting with the mating connector is ensured.

[0003] Here, the above connector is provided with a fitting lock arm for locking when fitting with a mating connector. At the time of fitting, a part of the mating connector is locked to a lock portion provided in the middle portion of the fitting lock arm while bending this middle portion. In the above connector, a CPA receiving space for receiving and attaching the CPA member is partitioned between the fitting lock arm and a CPA moving surface facing the fitting lock arm.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Incidentally, the connector as described above can also be used without attaching the CPA member. When used without this CPA member, in the connector, the CPA receiving space is in an empty state. In such a state, when an external force that bends the fitting lock arm inward into the CPA receiving space is applied to the fitting lock arm, the amount of bending tends to be large because there is no CPA member. If such bending in the fitting lock arm becomes too large exceeding the elasticity of the fitting lock arm, there is a risk of causing irreversible deformation or the like of the fitting lock arm, which is not desirable.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention focuses on the above problems and aims to provide a connector capable of suppressing the bending of the fitting lock arm when used without a CPA member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, the connector includes a connector body in which connector terminals are accommodated in a cavity of a housing, and a CPA member that can be attached to the housing in a temporarily locked state. When attached, before fitting of the connector body to a mating connector, movement in the moving direction along the fitting direction is prohibited, and when the prohibition is released by fitting, the fitting is guaranteed by shifting to the fully locked state by movement in the moving direction. The housing includes a housing body in which the cavity is provided, and a CPA receiving space that defines the CPA member with the CPA moving surface on which the CPA member moves on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body as the bottom surface. The housing also includes a CPA receiving portion where the CPA member is temporarily locked in the temporarily locked state, and an arm portion that is disposed to face the CPA moving surface with the CPA receiving space therebetween and extends in the fitting direction. A middle portion in the extending direction can be bent and deformed toward the CPA moving surface. When fitting with the mating connector, a part of the mating connector locks to a lock portion provided in the middle portion while bending the middle portion. so that the locking portion is sandwiched between a part of the mating connector in the moving direction, and to the locking portionA fitting lock arm to which the CPA member is fixedly engaged, and a protrusion that protrudes from the middle portion of the fitting lock arm toward the CPA moving surface by an amount that does not prevent the bending deformation of the fitting lock arm during fitting, and when excessive bending that exceeds the bending deformation during fitting is likely to occur, the tip abuts against the CPA moving surface to regulate the excessive bending. It is characterized by having a regulating protrusion for regulating the excessive bending.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the above connector, it is possible to suppress the bending of the fitting lock arm when used without the CPA member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the connector will be described.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment together with a mating connector.

[0012] In this embodiment, the connector 1 is used, for example, as an end connector of a wire harness mounted on a vehicle or the like. The mating connector 2 is attached to a mating device or a mating wire harness to which this wire harness is connected. Further, in this embodiment, the connector 1 is a female connector having a rectangular block-shaped appearance, and the mating connector 2 is a male connector having a rectangular block shape to which the connector 1 can be connected.

[0013] The connector 1 includes a connector body 11 and a CPA member 12. The connector body 11 has connector terminals 11b accommodated in a cavity 111a of a housing 11a. The housing 11a has a rectangular block-shaped appearance and is a member made of insulating resin in which a plurality of rectangular tube-shaped cavities 111a are formed inside. The connector terminal 11b is crimp-connected to an end of an electric wire W1 and is a female terminal made of conductive metal formed in a rectangular tube shape by sheet metal working. The connector terminals 11b are accommodated one by one in the cavity 111a of the housing 11a.

[0014] In addition, the connector body 11 is provided with a spacer 11c. The spacer 11c is a member made of insulating resin that is inserted through a slit formed in one surface of the rectangular block-shaped housing body 111. When this spacer 11c is inserted into the housing body 111, the connector terminals 11b within each cavity 111a are pressed in the insertion direction, and each connector terminal 11b is fixed so as not to come out of each cavity 111a.

[0015] The CPA member 12 is a resin member that is attached to the housing body 111 in a temporarily locked state and ensures the fitting by transitioning to the fully locked state after the fitting of the connector body 11 to the mating connector 2. Before the fitting of the connector body 11 to the mating connector 2, the CPA member 12 is prohibited from moving in the moving direction D12 along the fitting direction D11, and this prohibition is released by the fitting. When the fitting of the connector body 11 to the mating connector 2 is completed, the operator confirms the fitting by pushing the CPA member 12 in the moving direction D12 to transition it to the fully locked state.

[0016] The housing 11a of the connector body 11 includes a housing body 111 provided with cavities 111a and a CPA receiving portion 112 for receiving the CPA member 12. The CPA receiving portion 112 defines a CPA receiving space 112b for receiving the CPA member 12 with the CPA moving surface 112a on which the CPA member 12 moves on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body 111 as the bottom surface. The CPA receiving portion 112 is provided with a pair of side wall ribs 112c erected on a pair of side edges along the moving direction D12 on the CPA moving surface 112a, and a fitting lock arm 112d is provided between them so as to face the CPA moving surface 112a.

[0017] The fitting lock arm 112d is an arm portion that faces the CPA moving surface 112a with the CPA receiving space 112b therebetween, and extends in the fitting direction D11, that is, the moving direction D12 of the CPA member 12. The fitting lock arm 112d is connected to a pair of side wall ribs 112c on the rear side in the moving direction D12, connected to the CPA moving surface 112a on the front side, and configured such that the central portion can be elastically deformed. The fitting lock arm 112d includes a pair of arm portions 112d-1 that each extend along the side wall rib 112c, are connected to the side wall rib 112c on the rear side in the moving direction D12, and are connected closer to the side wall rib 112c of the CPA moving surface 112a on the front side. A lock bridge 112d-2 (locking portion) is provided across the central portions of these pair of arm portions 112d-1. When fitting with the mating connector 2, the mating connector 2 is locked to the lock end surface 112d-2a, which is the end surface on the rear side in the moving direction D12 of the lock bridge 112d-2, to achieve stability of the fitting state.

[0018] Furthermore, on the rear side of the lock bridge 112d-2, that is, on the side opposite to the fitting side when viewed from the lock bridge 112d-2, a lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 is provided in a bridge shape between the pair of arm portions 112d-1. The lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 receives a lock release operation from the operator to deflect the fitting lock arm 112d and remove the lock end surface 112d-2a from the mating connector 2 at the time of fitting release. The lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 is formed such that the height from the CPA moving surface 112a is higher than that of the lock bridge 112d-2 so as to easily receive the lock release operation from the operator.

[0019] The CPA member 12 is a member having a generally rectangular plate-like appearance, and is inserted into the CPA receiving space 112b so as to be inserted between the CPA moving surface 112a and the fitting lock arm 112d in the CPA receiving portion 112. Before fitting with the mating connector 2, the following temporary locking state is achieved in the CPA receiving space 112b.

[0020] First, the CPA member 12 includes a CPA main body 121 formed in a rectangular frame shape and provided with a main locking operation receiving portion 121a that receives a shifting operation to the main locked state on the rear side in the moving direction D12 along the fitting direction D11. On the outer surfaces of a pair of side frame portions 121b of the CPA main body 121 along the moving direction D12, CPA-side temporary locking protrusions 121c for temporarily locking to the housing are provided. And in the CPA receiving portion 112 of the housing 11a, housing-side temporary locking protrusions 112e that the CPA-side temporary locking protrusions 121c lock to are provided on the inner surfaces of a pair of side wall ribs 112c respectively. By the pair of CPA-side temporary locking protrusions 121c locking to the pair of housing-side temporary locking protrusions 112e, the CPA main body 121, that is, the CPA member 12, is temporarily locked to the housing 11a.

[0021] Also, the CPA member 12 includes a cantilever-shaped CPA arm 122 that extends in the moving direction D12 inside the rectangular frame-shaped CPA main body 121. In the CPA arm 122, the rear side in the moving direction D12 is the fixed end and the front side is the free end. At the end portion on the free end side of this CPA arm 122, an end protrusion 122a that protrudes to the side opposite to the CPA moving surface 112a is formed. Before fitting, a movement prohibiting end surface 122a-1, which is the front end surface in the moving direction D12 of the end protrusion 122a, abuts against a lock end surface 112d-2a of the fitting lock arm 112d of the housing 11a. By this abutment of the movement prohibiting end surface 122a-1 against the lock end surface 112d-2a, the CPA arm 122 prohibits the movement of the CPA member 12 in the moving direction D12 in the temporarily locked state before fitting.

[0022] When the mating connector 2 is fitted, the mating connector 2 pushes the end protrusion 122a toward the CPA moving surface 112a, so that the movement prohibition end surface 122a-1 is disengaged from the locking end surface 112d-2a, and the movement prohibition in the temporary locking state is released. Then, when the operator places a finger on the main locking operation receiving portion 121a and pushes the CPA member 12 in the moving direction D12, the end protrusion 122a of the CPA arm 122 slips past the locking bridge 112d-2 in the fitting locking arm 112d to the front side in the moving direction D12. When the CPA arm 122 returns at the position where it has slipped past, the main locking end surface 122a-2, which is the end surface on the rear side in the moving direction D12 of the end protrusion 122a, locks to the main locking receiving portion 112d-2b, which is the end on the front side in the moving direction D12 of the locking bridge 112d-2. The main locking state of the CPA member 12 with respect to the housing 11a means a state in which the main locking end surface 122a-2 of the CPA arm 122 is locked to the main locking receiving portion 112d-2b of the fitting locking arm 112d. In this way, when the movement prohibition of the CPA arm 122 is released by the fitting of the mating connector 2, it is main-locked to the housing 11a.

[0023] Further, on the outer surface of the CPA arm 122 on the side opposite to the CPA moving surface 112a, a main locking release receiving portion 122b is formed to protrude at an intermediate position between the fixed end side and the free end side. The main locking release receiving portion 122b is a portion that receives from the operator a main locking release operation for bending the CPA arm 122 in order to release the main locking of the main locking end surface 122a-2 in the main locking state. In the main locking release operation, when the operator pushes the main locking release receiving portion 122b toward the CPA moving surface 112a, the main locking end surface 122a-2 is disengaged from the main locking receiving portion 112d-2b, and the main locking is released.

[0024] Here, in the connector 1 described above, it is possible to use it without the CPA member 12 without attaching the CPA member 12 to the CPA receiving portion 112. In this case, for example, an external force that bends the fitting lock arm 112d into the inside of the empty CPA receiving space 112b may be applied to the unlocking operation receiving portion 112d-3 or the like during the transportation of the connector 1. In the present embodiment, in order to suppress the bending of the fitting lock arm 112d when such an external force is applied, the following configuration is provided in the housing 11a.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. 1 cut so that a cross section passing through the configuration for suppressing the bending of the fitting lock arm can be seen. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the bending of the fitting lock arm is suppressed in the housing shown in FIG. 2, taken along the cross section appearing in the cut view of FIG. 2. Further, FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the mating connector is fitted in the connector shown in FIG. 1 in a state without the CPA member, taken along a cross section passing through the locking portion of the mating connector at the time of fitting.

[0026] In the housing 11a in the present embodiment, a regulating projection 112f for suppressing bending is provided on the fitting lock arm 112d. The regulating projection 112f is a portion that protrudes from a middle portion in the extending direction (i.e., the moving direction D12) of the fitting lock arm 112d toward the CPA moving surface 112a. At this time, the protruding amount of the regulating projection 112f is such that it does not prevent the bending deformation of the fitting lock arm 112d during fitting. And when excessive bending that exceeds the bending deformation at the time of fitting is likely to occur, the tip portion 112f-1 abuts against the CPA moving surface 112a to regulate the excessive bending.

[0027] Also, in the present embodiment, a pair of such regulating protrusions 112f are provided, one for each of the pair of arm portions 112d-1 in the fitting lock arm 112d. Each regulating protrusion 112f protrudes from the edge on the CPA moving surface 112a side toward the CPA moving surface 112a in the vicinity of the unlocking operation receiving portion 112d-2 at approximately the center in the moving direction D12 in each arm portion 112d-1. Further, on the front side of each regulating protrusion 112f in the moving direction D12, a housing side inclined surface 112f-2 that separates from the fitting lock arm 112d as it advances in the moving direction D12 is formed. Each regulating protrusion 112f forms a hook shape together with the fitting lock arm 112d with this housing side inclined surface 112f-2.

[0028] In the example of FIG. 3, an external force F11 that deflects the fitting lock arm 112d toward the CPA moving surface 112a acts on the unlocking operation receiving portion 112d-2 that protrudes outward from other portions of the fitting lock arm 112d. Due to this external force F11, the fitting lock arm 112d deflects toward the CPA moving surface 112a, but the tip portion 112f-1 of the regulating protrusion 112f abuts against the CPA moving surface 112a, thereby regulating so that the amount of deflection does not become excessive.

[0029] On the other hand, when the connector 1 fits with the mating connector 2 as in the example of FIG. 4, the regulating protrusion 112f does not prevent the deflection of the fitting lock arm 112d when the mating locking portion 21, which is a part of the mating connector 2, locks to the locking end surface 112d-2a. In the first step S11 of FIG. 4, the mating locking portion 21 is in contact with the main locking receiving portion 112d-2b in the locking bridge 112d-2. In this state, the fitting lock arm 112d has not yet deflected.

[0030] In the second step S12 where the mating of the mating connector 2 with the connector 1 has advanced slightly, the mating locking arm 112d is deflected onto the lock bridge 112d-2 while the mating locking arm 112d is deflected by the mating locking arm 21 onto the CPA moving surface 112a. At this stage of the second step S12, the amount of deflection of the mating locking arm 112d during mating is maximized. The protruding amount of the regulating projection 112f is such that the tip 112f-1 does not contact the CPA moving surface 112a at this stage of the second step S12. By forming the regulating projection 112f with such a protruding amount, the bending deformation of the mating locking arm 112d during mating is not hindered.

[0031] In the third step S13 where the mating of the mating connector 2 with the connector 1 is completed, the mating locking portion 21 has straddled the lock bridge 112d-2 and is locked to the lock end surface 112d-2a. The deflection of the mating locking arm 112d has been eliminated.

[0032] Such a CPA member 12 attachable to the connector 1 has the following configuration using the regulating projection 112f on the housing 11a side.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the CPA member shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from both the front and back sides. FIG. 5(A) shows a perspective view of the front side of the CPA member, and FIG. 5(B) shows a perspective view of the back side of the CPA member. In the present embodiment, in addition to the configuration described with reference to FIG. 1, the CPA member 12 includes a CPA-side regulating projection 123 and an erroneous operation regulating portion 124.

[0034] The CPA-side regulating protrusion 123 is a portion that protrudes in the width direction D13 of the CPA arm 122 from an intermediate position between the fixed-end side and the free-end side in the CPA arm 122. As will be illustrated later, in this locked state, the CPA arm 122 is locked to the front side in the moving direction D12 of the regulating protrusion 112f on the housing 11a side, and restricts the return movement in the direction opposite to this moving direction D12. Here, in the present embodiment, a pair of regulating protrusions 112f in the housing 11a are provided so as to sandwich the CPA arm 122 with respect to the width direction D13. Correspondingly, a pair of CPA-side regulating protrusions 123 are provided so as to protrude in the width direction D13 from intermediate positions on each of the pair of side edges of the CPA arm 122, and in this locked state, they are locked one-to-one with the pair of regulating protrusions 112f.

[0035] The malfunction prevention portion 124 is a shelf-shaped portion formed at a position where the regulating protrusion 112f can come into contact in the locked state of the CPA member 12 and is disengaged from the regulating protrusion 112f in the temporary locked state. In the temporary locked state, when the malfunction prevention portion 124 is disengaged from the regulating protrusion 112f, the deflection of the fitting lock arm 112d for locking between the mating locking portion 21 of the mating connector 2 and the locking end face 112d-2a of the lock bridge 112d-2 is not hindered. On the other hand, in the locked state, the malfunction prevention portion 124 restricts the deflection of the fitting lock arm 112d when the regulating protrusion 112f comes into contact when the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 receives a malfunction before the CPA member 12 transitions to the temporary locked state. As described above, corresponding to the provision of a pair of regulating protrusions 112f, a pair of malfunction prevention portions 124 are also provided.

[0036] Specifically, the malfunction prevention unit 124 is provided on each of a pair of side frame portions 121b of the CPA member 12. The pair of side frame portions 121b are arranged to sandwich the fitting lock arm 112d in a plan view with respect to the CPA moving surface 112a when the CPA member 12 is in the main locked state. The restricting protrusions 112f provided on a pair of arm portions 112d-1 of the fitting lock arm 112d are arranged to enter the gaps between the CPA arm 122 and each of the pair of side frame portions 121b. The malfunction prevention unit 124 is provided in a pair so as to project inward from each of the pair of side frame portions 121b into the above-mentioned gap, and in the main locked state, the pair of restricting protrusions 112f can come into contact with each other.

[0037] In such a CPA member 12, the following deformation operations are performed from the temporarily locked state until reaching the main locked state through the fitting of the connector 1 and the mating connector 2.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the movement of each part from when the mating connector is fitted to the connector shown in FIG. 1 until the CPA member reaches the main locked state, in a cross-section passing through the CPA arm.

[0039] In the first step S21 in FIG. 6, the CPA member 12 is attached to the connector body 11 of the connector 1 in a temporarily locked state. And the fitting of the mating connector 2 to this connector 1 has started. In the first step S21, the mating locking portion 21 of the mating connector 2 is in a state of abutting on the main locking receiving portion 112d-2, which is on the opposite side of the locking end surface 112d-2a of the locking bridge 112d-2.

[0040] In the second step S22 where the fitting of the mating connector 2 to the connector 1 has advanced slightly, the mating locking portion 21 rides onto the locking bridge 112d-2 while deflecting the fitting lock arm 112d toward the CPA moving surface 112a. At this time, the tip portion is pushed by the locking bridge 112d-2 and the CPA member 12 is inclined toward the CPA moving surface 112a.

[0041] In the third step S23 where the fitting of the mating connector 2 to the connector 1 is completed, the mating locking portion 21 has overcome the lock bridge 112d-2 and is locked to the lock end face 112d-2a. And the mating locking portion 21 is pushing the end protrusion 122a, where the movement prohibition end face 122a-1 abutted against the lock end face 112d-2a in a temporarily locked state in the CPA member 12, toward the CPA moving surface 112a while deflecting the CPA arm 122. By this pushing, the movement prohibition end face 122a-1 is disengaged from the lock end face 112d-2a, and the movement prohibition of the CPA member 12 is released.

[0042] In the fourth step S24 after the fitting of the mating connector 2 to the connector 1 is completed, the CPA member 12 with the movement prohibition released is pushed in the movement direction D12 and shifts to the main locked state. In the main locked state, the end protrusion 122a of the CPA arm 122 passes under the lock bridge 112d-2, and the main locking end face 122a-2 on the rear side in the movement direction D12 is locked to the main locking receiving portion 112d-2b on the lock bridge 112d-2. And in this main locked state, the regulating protrusion 112f provided on the fitting lock arm 112d can come into contact with the misoperation regulating portion 124 in the CPA member 12. And when the regulating protrusion 112f can come into contact with the misoperation regulating portion 124, the deflection of the fitting lock arm 112d when the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-2 receives a misoperation is regulated.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a cutaway perspective view showing a state where the regulating protrusion provided on the fitting lock arm can come into contact with the misoperation regulating portion in the CPA member when the CPA member is in the main locked state in the connector, with the regulating protrusion and the misoperation regulating portion visible. Further, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view passing through the fitting lock arm showing a state where the deflection of the fitting lock arm when the lock release operation receiving portion receives a misoperation is regulated by the regulating protrusion coming into contact with the misoperation regulating portion.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, when the CPA member 12 is in the main locked state in the connector 1, the misoperation prevention portion 124 of the CPA member 12 is positioned directly below the regulating projection 112f provided on the fitting lock arm 112d. At the stage of being positioned in this way, a gap is open between the tip portion 112f-1 of the regulating projection 112f and the misoperation prevention portion 124.

[0045] In such a main locked state, as shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-2 receives a misoperation. The misoperation in the example of FIG. 8 is such that an external force F12 for pushing is applied to the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-2 formed to protrude outward from other parts. In this case, the fitting lock arm 112d bends by the amount of the slight gap open between the tip portion 112f-1 of the regulating projection 112f and the misoperation prevention portion 124. Thereafter, the tip portion 112f-1 of the regulating projection 112f immediately comes into contact with the misoperation prevention portion 124, and further bending is restricted.

[0046] Here, as described above, in the main locked state, the CPA side regulating projection 123 of the CPA member 12 is locked to the front side in the moving direction D12 of the regulating projection 112f on the housing 11a side, and the backward movement in the direction opposite to this moving direction D12 is restricted. At this time, in the present embodiment, a housing side inclined surface 112f-2 is formed on the front side in the moving direction D12 of the regulating projection 112f, and this housing side inclined surface 112f-2 constitutes a hook shape together with the fitting lock arm 112d.

[0047] On the other hand, in the CPA side regulating projection 123, as shown in FIG. 7, a CPA side inclined surface 123a that separates from the fitting lock arm 112d as it advances in the moving direction D12 is formed on the rear side in the moving direction D12. When restricting the backward movement, the CPA side regulating projection 123 moves in such a manner that the rear side in the moving direction D12 enters the inside of the above-described hook shape so that the CPA side inclined surface 123a comes into surface contact with the housing side inclined surface 112f-2 and locks.

[0048] Here, when the fitting between the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 is released, prior to the release of the fitting between the connectors, first, the CPA member 12 in the main locked state is returned to the temporarily locked state. As described above, the return to this temporarily locked state is performed by returning the CPA member 12 in the opposite direction to the moving direction D12 after the main lock is released by the operation of the main lock release receiving portion 122b. The return at this time is performed in a state where the CPA arm 122 is deflected by the operation of the main lock release receiving portion 122b and the CPA side regulating projection 123 is disengaged from the regulating projection 112f. When the CPA member 12 is returned to the temporarily locked state, the fitting lock arm 112d becomes deflectable as follows.

[0049] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through the fitting lock arm showing a state in which the fitting lock arm has become deflectable by returning the CPA member to the temporarily locked state in the connector.

[0050] As shown in this Fig. 9, when the CPA member 12 in the connector 1 is returned to the temporarily locked state, the misoperation regulating portion 124 is disengaged from directly below the regulating projection 112f. At this time, the CPA side regulating projection 123 passes under the regulating projection 112f and is positioned on the rear side in the moving direction D12. By disengaging the misoperation regulating portion 124 from directly below the regulating projection 112f, the deflection regulation by the regulating projection 112f is released, and the fitting lock arm 112d becomes deflectable. In this state, when the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 receives a pushing operation, the fitting lock arm 112d deflects, and the mating locking portion 21 in the mating connector 2 disengages from the locking end face 112d-2a of the lock bridge 112d-2, enabling the fitting to be released.

[0051] According to the connector 1 of the embodiment described above, when used without the CPA member 12, when excessive deflection that exceeds the deflection deformation of the fitting lock arm 112d during fitting is likely to occur, such excessive deflection is regulated as follows. That is, when used without the CPA member 12, the tip portion 112f-1 of the regulating projection 112f provided on the fitting lock arm 112d abuts against the CPA moving surface 112a, thereby regulating excessive deflection. By the action of this regulating projection 112f, the deflection of the fitting lock arm 112d when used without the CPA member 12 can be suppressed.

[0052] Here, in the present embodiment, the CPA side regulating projection 123 projects from the CPA arm 122 of the CPA member 12 in the width direction D13, and in this locked state, it locks to the front side in the moving direction D12 of the regulating projection 112f to regulate the return movement in the direction opposite to the moving direction D12. According to this configuration, when used with the CPA member 12, in this locked state after fitting with the mating connector 2, the CPA side regulating projection 123 locks to the regulating projection 112f on the housing 11a side, thereby regulating the return movement in the direction opposite to the moving direction D12. By regulating this return movement in the locked state, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of a situation where the CPA member 12 unintentionally shifts to the temporarily locked state and a fitting failure with the mating connector 2 occurs.

[0053] Further, in the present embodiment, a pair of regulating projections 112f in the housing 11a are provided so as to sandwich the CPA arm 122 therebetween in the width direction D13. And a pair of CPA side regulating projections 123 are provided so as to project in the width direction D13 from each of the pair of side edges of the CPA arm 122. In this locked state, these pair of CPA side regulating projections 123 are locked one-to-one with the pair of regulating projections 112f. According to this configuration, by the pair of CPA side regulating projections 123 provided in the width direction D13 locking one-to-one with the pair of regulating projections 112f also provided in the width direction D13, the return movement of the CPA member 12 can be regulated in a well-balanced manner while suppressing the inclination in the width direction D13.

[0054] In addition, in the present embodiment, a housing-side inclined surface 112f-2 is formed on the front side of the regulation protrusion 112f in the moving direction D12, and the housing-side inclined surface 112f-2 and the fitting lock arm 112d form a hook shape. On the other hand, a CPA-side inclined surface 123a is formed on the rear side of the CPA-side regulation protrusion 123 in the moving direction D12. When restricting the return movement described above, the CPA-side regulation protrusion 123 moves in the rearward direction of the moving direction D12 so that the CPA-side inclined surface 123a comes into surface contact with the housing-side inclined surface 112f-2 and enters and locks inside the above-described hook shape. According to this configuration, by locking the rear side of the CPA-side regulation protrusion 123 in the moving direction D12 in a state of being inserted inside the hook shape formed by the fitting lock arm 112d and the regulation protrusion 112f, the locking strength can be improved.

[0055] In addition, in the present embodiment, a lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 is formed on the fitting lock arm 112d, and the CPA member 12 is provided with an erroneous operation restricting portion 124. The erroneous operation restricting portion 124 is formed at a position where the regulation protrusion 112f can come into contact in the main locking state and is disengaged from the regulation protrusion 112f in the temporary locking state. This erroneous operation restricting portion 124 does not prevent the fitting lock arm 112d from flexing for locking between the mating locking portion 21 and the lock bridge 112d-2 in the temporary locking state. Further, in the main locking state, the erroneous operation restricting portion 124 restricts the flexing of the fitting lock arm 112d when the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 receives an erroneous operation. According to this configuration, the flexing of the fitting lock arm 112d when the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 receives an erroneous operation in the main locking state can be effectively restricted by the contact between the regulation protrusion 112f and the erroneous operation restricting portion 124 in the CPA member 12. And, by restricting the flexing of the fitting lock arm 112d when receiving this erroneous operation, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation such as the lock with the mating connector 2 being unintentionally released during fitting.

[0056] In addition, in the present embodiment, a pair of regulation protrusions 112f are provided on the fitting lock arm 112d, and the malfunction prevention part 124 is provided in a pair so as to project inward from each of the pair of side frame parts 121b of the CPA member 12. In this locked state, the pair of regulation protrusions 112f can come into contact with the pair of malfunction prevention parts 124. According to this configuration, the pair of regulation protrusions 112f provided in the width direction D13 also come into contact with the pair of malfunction prevention parts 124 provided in the width direction D13 one by one, thereby suppressing the inclination of the CPA member 12 around the axis and regulating it in a well-balanced manner.

[0057] Note that the embodiments described above merely show typical forms of the connector. The connector is not limited to this and can be implemented in various modified forms.

[0058] For example, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the connector, the connector 1 used as an end connector of a wire harness mounted on a vehicle or the like is illustrated. However, the connector is not limited to this, and its specific application target is not questioned.

[0059] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the housing, the housing 11a having a rectangular block-shaped appearance is illustrated. However, the housing is not limited to this, and its specific appearance shape and the like can adopt any shape.

[0060] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the connector, the connector 1 in which the CPA-side regulation protrusion 123 protruding from the CPA arm 122 locks to the regulation protrusion 112f in this locked state to regulate the return movement of the CPA member 12 is illustrated. However, the connector is not limited to this, and the CPA-side regulation protrusion may not be provided on the CPA member, and the regulation protrusion may play its role only when the connector is used without the CPA member. However, as described above, by the CPA-side regulation protrusion 123 locking to the regulation protrusion 112f in this locked state, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of a situation such as a fitting failure with the mating connector 2.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the connector, a connector 1 is exemplified in which a pair of CPA-side regulating protrusions 123 are locked one-to-one with a pair of regulating protrusions 112f. However, the connector is not limited to this. Even when providing CPA-side regulating protrusions, the number of installations and the locking mode with the regulating protrusions can be arbitrarily set. However, by locking the pair of CPA-side regulating protrusions 123 one-to-one with the pair of regulating protrusions 112f, the return movement of the CPA member 12 can be regulated in a well-balanced manner while suppressing the inclination in the width direction D13, as described above.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the connector, a connector 1 is exemplified in which a housing-side inclined surface 112f-2 is formed on the regulating protrusion 112f and a CPA-side inclined surface 123a is formed on the CPA-side regulating protrusion 123. When regulating the return movement of the CPA member 12, the end portion on the CPA-side inclined surface 123a side of the CPA-side regulating protrusion 123 enters inside the hook shape formed by the housing-side inclined surface 112f-2 of the regulating protrusion 112f and the fitting lock arm 112d. However, the connector is not limited to this. For the specific shapes of the regulating protrusion and the CPA-side regulating protrusion, and the specific locking mode during the regulation of the return movement, arbitrary shapes and modes can be adopted. However, by allowing the end portion on the CPA-side inclined surface 123a side of the CPA-side regulating protrusion 123 to enter inside the hook shape formed by the housing-side inclined surface 112f-2 and the fitting lock arm 112d, the locking strength can be improved, as described above.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the connector, a connector 1 is illustrated in which when the lock release operation receiving portion 112d-3 of the fitting lock arm 112d receives an erroneous operation, the deflection of the fitting lock arm 112d is restricted by the erroneous operation restricting portion 124 of the CPA member 12. However, the connector is not limited to this, and it may be configured not to provide an erroneous operation restricting portion in the CPA member. However, by restricting the deflection of the fitting lock arm 112d when an erroneous operation is received by the erroneous operation restricting portion 124 of the CPA member 12, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where the lock with the mating connector 2 at the time of fitting is unintentionally released, as described above.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the connector, a connector 1 is illustrated in which in the locked state, a pair of restricting projections 112f can abut against a pair of erroneous operation restricting portions 124. However, the connector is not limited to this, and even when providing an erroneous operation restricting portion, the number of installations and the abutting mode with the restricting projection can be arbitrarily set. However, by making a pair of restricting projections 112f capable of abutting against a pair of erroneous operation restricting portions 124, it is possible to suppress the inclination of the CPA member 12 around the axis and restrict it in a well-balanced manner, as described above.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 1 Connector 2 Mating Connector 11 Connector Body 11a Housing 11b Connector Terminal 11c Spacer 12 CPA Member 21 Mating Locking Portion 111 Housing 111a Cavity 112 CPA Receiving Portion 112a CPA Moving Surface 112b CPA Receiving Space 112c Side Wall Rib 112d Fitting Lock Arm 112d-1 Arm Portion 112d-2 Lock bridge (locking part) 112d-2a Lock end face 112d-2b Main locking receiving part 112d-3 Lock release operation receiving part 112e Housing side temporary locking projection 112f Regulation projection 112f-1 Tip part 112f-2 Housing side inclined surface 121 CPA body 121a Main locking operation receiving part 121b Side frame part 121c CPA side temporary locking projection 122 CPA arm 122a End projection 122a-1 Movement prohibited end face 122a-2 Main locking end face 122b Main locking release receiving part 123 CPA side regulation projection 123a CPA side inclined surface 124 Misoperation regulation part D11 Fitting direction D12 Movement direction D13 Width direction F11,F12 External force W1 Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector body in which connector terminals are housed in a cavity of a housing, and a CPA member that can be attached to the housing in a temporarily locked state. When attached, before fitting the connector body to a mating connector, movement in the moving direction along the fitting direction is prohibited, and when the prohibition is released by fitting, the fitting is guaranteed by shifting to a fully locked state by movement in the moving direction. The housing is a housing body provided with the cavity, a CPA receiving space that defines a CPA moving surface on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body, on which the CPA member moves, and receives the CPA member with the CPA moving surface as a bottom surface, and a CPA receiving portion where the CPA member is temporarily locked in the temporarily locked state, an arm portion that is disposed opposite to the CPA moving surface with the CPA receiving space therebetween and extends in the fitting direction. A middle portion in the extending direction can be bent and deformed toward the CPA moving surface. When fitting with the mating connector, a part of the mating connector locks to a lock portion provided in the middle portion while bending the middle portion, and the CPA member is fully locked to the lock portion so as to sandwich the lock portion between the part of the mating connector in the moving direction. A fitting lock arm, A regulating protrusion that protrudes from the middle portion of the fitting lock arm toward the CPA moving surface by an amount that does not prevent the bending deformation of the fitting lock arm during fitting, and when excessive bending that exceeds the bending deformation during fitting is likely to occur, the tip abuts against the CPA moving surface to regulate the excessive bending. A connector characterized by comprising.

2. The CPA member is a CPA main body that is temporarily locked to the CPA receiving portion and receives an operation of shifting to the fully locked state on the rear side in the moving direction, a cantilever that extends from the CPA main body in the moving direction. Before fitting, the end on the free end side abuts against the lock portion to prohibit the movement, and when the prohibition is released by fitting, the CPA arm that is fully locked to the lock portion at the end. A CPA-side regulating protrusion that protrudes in the width direction of the CPA arm from an intermediate position between the fixed end side and the free end side in the CPA arm, and in the fully locked state, locks to the front side in the moving direction of the regulating protrusion to regulate the return movement in the direction opposite to the moving direction. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with.

3. A pair of the regulating protrusions in the housing are provided so as to sandwich the CPA arm in the width direction therebetween. A pair of the CPA-side regulating protrusions are provided so as to protrude in the width direction from the intermediate position on each of the pair of side edges of the CPA arm, and in the fully locked state, lock one-to-one with the pair of the regulating protrusions. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that.

4. On the front side in the moving direction of the regulating protrusion, a housing-side inclined surface that separates from the fitting lock arm as it advances in the moving direction is formed, and the housing-side inclined surface constitutes a hook shape together with the fitting lock arm. On the rear side in the moving direction of the CPA-side regulating protrusion, a CPA-side inclined surface that separates from the fitting lock arm as it advances in the moving direction is formed. When restricting the return movement, the CPA-side regulating protrusion has the CPA-side inclined surface facing the housing-side inclined surface. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear side in the moving direction enters the inside of the hook shape and locks.

5. On the fitting lock arm, on the side opposite to the fitting side when viewed from the locking portion, a lock release operation receiving portion that receives a lock release operation for deflecting the intermediate portion toward the CPA moving surface to release the locking between a part of the mating connector and the locking portion during fitting is formed. The CPA member is formed at a position where the regulating protrusion can come into contact in the fully locked state and disengages from the regulating protrusion in the temporarily locked state. In the temporarily locked state, it does not prevent the deflection of the fitting lock arm for locking between a part of the mating connector and the locking portion. In the fully locked state, the CPA member has an erroneous operation restricting portion that restricts the deflection of the fitting lock arm when the lock release operation receiving portion receives an erroneous operation before the CPA member shifts to the temporarily locked state. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with.

6. A pair of the regulating protrusions are provided so as to be positioned near respective ones of a pair of side edges extending along the moving direction in the fitting lock arm. The CPA member includes a pair of side frame portions that are arranged so as to sandwich the fitting lock arm therebetween in a plan view with respect to the CPA moving surface in the main locked state. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the malfunction prevention portion is provided with a pair of projections that project inward from respective ones of the pair of side frame portions so that the pair of regulating protrusions can come into contact therewith in the main locked state.

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