Connectors and mating connectors

Abstract

To enable coupling in accordance with the number of poles of a connector with a hood.SOLUTION: A connector comprises: a housing 30 housing a terminal metal fitting 20 in a state where a terminal connection part 21 projects; and a pair of movable hood walls 40 that are oppositely arranged with an interval in a first orthogonal direction to a withdrawal direction, and can be relatively moved in the withdrawal direction with respect to the housing between a protection position for protecting an alternative terminal connection part and a saving position which avoids an opposite arrangement to the terminal connection part in the first orthogonal direction. The housing includes: a pair of fixed hood walls 32 that are oppositely arranged with an interval in the withdrawal direction and a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the first orthogonal direction, and protects the alternative terminal connection part in a manner to be surrounded from four directions in conjunction with the pair of movable hood walls at the protection position; and a guide part 33 that perform guiding while holding each movable hood wall between the protection position and the saving position. The pair of movable hood walls make a mating housing 130 press and move from the protection position to the saving position in accordance with insertion fitting of the mating housing to the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A mating connector is a connector that electrically connects its terminal fittings by mating it with a mating connector. In this mating connector, a cylindrical hood is provided in the connector housing, and the terminal connection portions of the terminal fittings are arranged to protrude within this hood. This type of mating connector is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. The mating connector of Patent Document 1 further includes a cover within the hood that surrounds at least the tip of the terminal connection portion of the male terminal fitting from all sides and is pushed and moved by the mating connector as the connector and mating connector are mated, enabling physical and electrical connection between the terminal connection portion and the mating terminal connection portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-40827 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In mating connectors, connectors and mating connectors can be used singly or in multiple numbers depending on the number of poles, and by configuring them to be able to be connected when multiple connectors are used, standardization of parts can be achieved. However, connectors have hoods on their housings to protect the protruding terminal connections. Therefore, while conventional mating connectors can be connected to mating connectors without hoods, when connecting hooded connectors, the adjacent portions of the hoods of the connectors interfere with the insertion of the mating connector. Therefore, conventional connectors must prepare hooded housings that can accommodate all terminal fittings corresponding to the number of poles, which leaves room for improvement in terms of standardization.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector and a mating connector that can be connected in accordance with the number of poles of a hooded connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a connector according to the present invention comprises terminal fittings having terminal connection portions into which mating terminal connection portions of mating terminal fittings of a mating connector are mated and connected when a mating connector is inserted and fitted, a housing into which a mating housing of the mating connector is inserted and fitted, the terminal fittings being accommodated with the terminal connection portions projecting, and a first orthogonal direction perpendicular to an insertion / removal direction between the housing and the mating housing, the terminal fittings being arranged opposite to each other with a gap therebetween in a first orthogonal direction, the first orthogonal direction being perpendicular to an insertion / removal direction between the housing and the mating housing, and a retracted position in which the terminal fittings are not arranged opposite to the terminal connection portions in the first orthogonal direction with respect to the housing. and a pair of movable hood walls that are relatively movable in an insertion / removal direction, the housing having a pair of fixed hood walls that are disposed opposite to each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction, and that surround and protect the terminal connection portion disposed between them from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls in the protective position, and guide portions for each of the pair of movable hood walls that guide and hold the movable hood wall between the protective position and the retracted position, the pair of movable hood walls being formed to push the mating housing from the protective position to the retracted position as the mating housing is inserted and fitted into the housing. The pair of movable hood walls have a blocking wall connected to each end of the movable hood walls on the protection position side, and blocking an opening formed by the movable hood walls and the pair of fixed hood walls in the protection position, and the blocking wall has a terminal insertion hole through which the terminal connection portion is inserted in the retracted position. It is characterized by the following.

[0007] Further, in order to achieve the above object, a mating connector according to the present invention comprises a connector and a mating connector which are insertable and removable from each other, the connector comprising: terminal fittings having terminal connection portions; a housing in which the terminal fittings are housed with the terminal connection portions projecting; and a pair of movable hood walls which are arranged opposite to each other with a gap therebetween in a first orthogonal direction which is orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction between the connector and the mating connector, and which are movable relative to the housing in the insertion and removal direction between a protection position which protects the terminal connection portions arranged between the connector and the mating connector, and a retracted position which does not face the terminal connection portions in the first orthogonal direction; and the mating connector comprises a mating terminal connection portion which is inserted into the connector and fitted to be mated and connected to the terminal connection portions when inserted into the connector. and a mating terminal fitting having a mating terminal connector and a mating housing that receives the mating terminal fitting and is inserted into and fitted with the housing, the housing having a pair of fixed hood walls that are disposed opposite to each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction, and that surround and protect the terminal connection portion disposed between the housing from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls in the protective position, and guide portions for each of the pair of movable hood walls that guide and hold the movable hood wall between the protective position and the retracted position, the pair of movable hood walls being formed to push the mating housing from the protective position to the retracted position as the mating housing is inserted and fitted into the housing. The pair of movable hood walls have a blocking wall connected to each end of the movable hood walls on the protection position side, and blocking an opening formed by the movable hood walls and the pair of fixed hood walls in the protection position, and the blocking wall has a terminal insertion hole through which the terminal connection portion is inserted in the retracted position. It is characterized by the following.

[0008] Further, in order to achieve the above object, a mating connector according to the present invention comprises at least one connector which can be inserted into or removed from another connector and a number of mating connectors equal to that of the connectors, the connectors comprising: terminal fittings having terminal connection portions; a housing in which the terminal fittings are accommodated with the terminal connection portions projecting; and a pair of movable hood walls which are arranged opposite to each other at a distance in a first orthogonal direction which is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction between the connector and the mating connector and which are movable relative to the housing in the insertion / removal direction between a protection position which protects the terminal connection portions arranged between the terminal fittings and a retracted position which does not face the terminal connection portions in the first orthogonal direction; the mating connector comprises mating terminal fittings having mating terminal connection portions which are inserted into and fitted with the connector and which are fitted into the terminal connection portions; and a mating housing in which the mating terminal fittings are accommodated and which is inserted and fitted into the housing; the housings are arranged opposite to each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction which is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction and which protect the terminal connection portions arranged between the pair of movable hood walls in the protection position. a pair of fixed hood walls that protect the movable hood wall by surrounding it from all sides in cooperation with the movable hood wall; a guide portion for each of the pair of movable hood walls that guides the movable hood wall while holding it between the protection position and the retracted position; a first connected portion to which the housing of the adjacent connector disposed adjacently on one side in the first orthogonal direction is connected; and a first connecting portion that connects to the housing of the adjacent connector disposed adjacently on the other side in the first orthogonal direction, and when a mating connection target for one connector is one mating connector, the mating connector is used as the mating connector. The reference mating connector has the mating housing accommodated between the pair of movable hood walls in the protective position when in a mating connection completion position with the housing, and when the mating connection targets for the two connectors in a coupled state are the two mating connectors in a coupled state, a first mating connector and a second mating connector are used as the mating connectors, whose mating housings can be coupled to each other in the first orthogonal direction, and in this case, the mating housings of the first mating connector and the second mating connector areThe movable hood wall is inserted and fitted in a coupled state into the housings of each of the connectors in the coupled state, and is formed so that, while two of the movable hood walls located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are maintained in the protective position, all of the remaining movable hood walls other than these two movable hood walls are pushed from the protective position to the retracted position, and when the mating connection targets for three or more of the connectors in the coupled state are the same number of mating connectors in the coupled state, in addition to the first mating connector and the second mating connector, at least one third mating connector is used as the mating connector, which is arranged side by side between and coupled to the first mating connector and the second mating connector in the first orthogonal direction, and the mating housings of the first mating connector, the second mating connector, and the third mating connector in this case are inserted and fitted in a coupled state into the housings of each of the connectors in the coupled state, and while the two movable hood walls located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are maintained in the protective position, Further, the mating housing of the first mating connector has a second coupled portion to which the mating housing of the adjacent second mating connector or the mating housing of the adjacent third mating connector, which is provided adjacently on one side in the first orthogonal direction, is coupled, and the mating housing of the second mating connector has a second coupled portion to which the mating housing of the adjacent first mating connector or the mating housing of the adjacent third mating connector, which is provided adjacently on the other side in the first orthogonal direction, is coupled. the mating housing of the third mating connector has the second connected portion to which the second connecting portion of the adjacent second mating connector or the mating housing of the adjacent third mating connector is connected, and the mating housing of the third mating connector has the second connecting portion to which the second connecting portion of the adjacent first mating connector or the mating housing of the adjacent third mating connector is connected, and has the second connecting portion to which the second connected portion of the adjacent first mating connector or the second connected portion of the adjacent third mating connector is connected,

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a mating connector according to the present invention comprises a set of a first connector and a first mating connector which are insertable and removable from each other along an insertion / removal direction, and a set of a second connector and a second mating connector which are insertable and removable from each other along the insertion / removal direction, wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise terminal fittings having a plurality of terminal connection portions arranged at the same inter-terminal pitch, a housing in which the terminal fittings are accommodated with the terminal connection portions projecting and with the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminal connection portions aligned in a first orthogonal direction which is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction, and a protection position for protecting the plurality of terminal connection portions arranged between opposing wall surfaces of the terminal fittings and the first orthogonal direction, the protection position being spaced apart from each other in the first orthogonal direction, and a protection position for protecting the plurality of terminal connection portions arranged between opposing wall surfaces of the terminal fittings and the first orthogonal direction. a pair of movable hood walls movable relative to the housing in the insertion / removal direction between a retracted position in which the terminal connection parts are not arranged opposite each other, and a pair of fixed hood walls arranged opposite each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction, and which surround and protect the multiple terminal connection parts arranged between them from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls that they hold in the protection position, and the terminal connection parts are offset from the opposing wall surface of one of the movable hood walls that they hold toward the other movable hood wall by two pitches in terms of the inter-terminal pitch, and are offset from the end face of the end of the other movable hood wall toward one of the movable hood walls by one pitch in terms of the inter-terminal pitch.The first housing accommodates the terminal fittings with an offset of 5 pitches, and has a fitting protrusion at the end of the other movable hood wall side that protrudes beyond the end face of the end, and the housing of the second connector holds the pair of movable hood walls with a gap between the opposing wall surfaces that is the same size as that of the first housing, and holds one of the movable hood walls and the other movable hood wall in an opposite position to that of the first housing in the first orthogonal direction, and is disposed opposite to each other with a gap in the second orthogonal direction, and has a gap between them. The hood unit includes a pair of fixed hood walls that protect the arranged terminal connection parts from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls that the hood unit holds at the protection position, and the terminal fittings are accommodated by offsetting the opposing wall surface of one of the movable hood walls held by the hood unit toward the other movable hood wall by two pitches in the inter-terminal pitch, and offsetting the terminal fittings from an end face of the end on the other movable hood wall side toward one of the movable hood walls by two pitches in the inter-terminal pitch, and the end on the other movable hood wall side is recessed from the end face of the end. and a second housing provided with a mating recess for connecting the first housing by mating connection with the mating protrusion, and the first mating connector and the second mating connector each include a mating terminal fitting for each terminal connection portion having a mating terminal connection portion to be mated and connected to the terminal connection portion, and a mating housing that accommodates a plurality of the mating terminal fittings and has a maximum value in the first orthogonal direction equal to the distance between the opposing wall surfaces of the pair of movable hood walls, and the mating housing of the first mating connector is mated with the first connector, The mating housing of the second mating connector is formed as a first mating housing having a mating mating recess recessed from the end face of the end face at an end that faces one of the movable hood walls of the first connector in a mated and connected state, and the mating housing of the second mating connector is formed as a second mating housing having a mating mating convex portion at an end that faces one of the movable hood walls of the second connector in a mated and connected state with the second connector, with the end face of the end face at the maximum protruding position and coupling the first mating housing to the mating mating recess. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the connector according to the present invention, both ends of the hood in the first orthogonal direction are movable hood walls that are movable in the insertion / removal direction between a protected position and a retracted position. Therefore, the movable hood wall and the fixed hood wall protect the terminal connection portions inside the connector until mating with the mating connector is achieved. If the connector is to be mated with a single mating connector, the connector can be mated by moving the pair of movable hood walls from the protected position to the retracted position with the mating housing of the mating connector. If the connector is to be mated with a series of multiple mating connectors, the connector itself can be connected in the first orthogonal direction with the same number of mating connectors as the mating connectors, and the series of multiple mating connectors can be mated with the series of multiple mating connectors by moving all of the movable hood walls from the protected position to the retracted position with the mating housing of each of the multiple mating connectors. The mating connector may include mating terminal fittings in a single mating housing equal to the number of poles in the series of multiple mating connectors. As described above, the hooded connector of the present invention has the function of protecting the terminal connection portion by the movable hood wall and the fixed hood wall, while also being connectable according to the number of poles. Therefore, it can be used singly or as a multiple-connection assembly according to the number of poles. Therefore, the connector of the present invention can be standardized. And, the mating connector of the present invention can obtain the same effects as this connector if it is equipped with such a connector. Furthermore, when this mating connector is provided with multiple combinations of connectors and mating connectors according to the number of poles, the mating connectors can also be connected according to the number of poles, so it can be used singly or as a multiple-connection assembly according to the number of poles. Therefore, the mating connector of the present invention can also be standardized.

[0011] Furthermore, as long as the mating connector of the present invention uses one type of connector and four types of mating connectors (reference mating connector, first mating connector, second mating connector, and third mating connector), whether the mating connector and mating connector are a single or multiple combination, the two movable hood walls located outermost in the first orthogonal direction and their respective fixed hood walls form a cylindrical hood even after mating connection, in a single connector or in a connected connector. Therefore, this mating connector allows connection according to the number of poles of the hooded connector, while also being able to surround the mating housing with the hood, thereby enhancing protection from the outside when subjected to external force, etc. Therefore, the mating connector of the present invention can enhance the protection of the mating connector while promoting standardization.

[0012] Furthermore, in the mating connector according to the present invention, when the first connector and the first mating connector are mated and connected, the pair of fixed hood walls and the pair of movable hood walls remain to form a cylindrical hood even after the mating connection. Furthermore, in the mating connector according to the present invention, when the second connector and the second mating connector are mated and connected, the pair of fixed hood walls and the pair of movable hood walls remain to form a cylindrical hood even after the mating connection. Furthermore, in the mating connector according to the present invention, when the first connector and the second connector in a coupled state are mated and connected to the first mating connector and the second mating connector in a coupled state, the two movable hood walls located outermost in the first orthogonal direction and their respective fixed hood walls form a cylindrical hood even after the mating connection. Therefore, this mating connector allows for connection of hooded connectors (first connector, second connector) according to the number of poles, and whether the first connector or second connector is used alone or the first connector and second connector are connected, the hood can surround the mating housing (first mating housing, second mating housing, first mating housing and second mating housing in a connected state), thereby improving protection from the outside when subjected to external force, etc. Furthermore, in the mating connector according to the present invention, one with improved protection can be created using two types of connectors (first connector, second connector) and two types of mating connectors (first mating connector, second mating connector). Therefore, the mating connector according to the present invention can be standardized while improving the protection of the mating connector. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mating connector according to an embodiment before a connector and a mating connector are mated and connected. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mating connector of the embodiment after the connector and the mating connector are mated and connected. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the connector as seen from the hood side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the connector with the movable hood wall moved to the retracted position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a connector before coupling and a mating connector before coupling. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connected connector and the connected mating connector before fitting. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the connected connector and the connected mating connector after fitting. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the connector and the mating connector of the embodiment before they are mated and connected, and shows a modified form of the mating connector. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the mating connector of the embodiment after the connector and the mating connector are mated and connected, and shows a modified form of the mating connector. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a partially exploded perspective view of a modified mating connector. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a partially exploded perspective view of a modified mating connector. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a modified mating connector before the connector and the mating connector are mated and connected, showing a combination of a single connector and a mating connector. [Figure 20]FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a modified mating connector after the connector and the mating connector are mated and connected, showing a combination of a single connector and a mating connector. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a modified mating connector before mating and connection of the connector and the mating connector, showing two combinations of the connector and the mating connector. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a modified mating connector after mating and connection of the connector and the mating connector, showing two combinations of the connector and the mating connector. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a modified mating connector before mating connection of the connector and the mating connector, showing three combinations of the connector and the mating connector. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a modified mating connector after mating connection of the connectors and the mating connectors, showing three combinations of connectors and mating connectors. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a plan view showing a reference mating connector according to a modified example. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a plan view showing a first mating connector of a modified example. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a second mating connector of a modified example. [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a plan view showing a third mating connector according to a modified example. [Figure 32] FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing the mating connector of the second modification example before the connector and the mating connector are mated and connected when used alone. [Figure 33]FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the mating connector of the second modification example after the connector and the mating connector are mated and connected when used alone. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 35] FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing the connector and the mating connector of the second modification example before they are fitted and connected together when used in conjunction. [Figure 36] FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing the mating connector of the second modification example after the connector and the mating connector are mated and connected when used in conjunction. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 38] FIG. 38 is a plan view showing the first connector and the second connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A connector and a mating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0015] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a connector and a mating connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0016] 1 to 4 designate a mating connector of this embodiment. This mating connector 1 includes a connector 10 and a mating connector 110 that are mutually insertable and removable. In this mating connector 1, by inserting and mating the mating connector 110 into the connector 10 along an insertion direction, the terminal fittings of the two connectors are physically and electrically connected to each other, and by removing the mating connector 110 from the connector 10 in this mated and connected state in a removal direction opposite to the insertion direction, the physical and electrical connection between the terminal fittings is released. Here, the connector 10 is a male connector with a hood, and the mating connector 110 is a female connector without a hood.

[0017] The connector 10 includes terminal fittings 20 having terminal connection portions 21 and a housing 30 in which the terminal fittings 20 are housed with the terminal connection portions 21 protruding (FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6). Similarly, the mating connector 110 includes mating terminal fittings 120 having mating terminal connection portions 121 and a mating housing 130 in which the mating terminal fittings 120 are housed (FIGS. 2 and 4). In this mating connector 1, as the mating connector 110 is inserted into and fitted with the connector 10, the terminal connection portions 21 and the mating terminal connection portions 121 are fitted and connected. In addition, in this mating connector 1, the insertion and removal directions (insertion direction, removal direction) between the connector 10 and the mating connector 110 are the same as the insertion and removal directions (insertion direction, removal direction) between the housing 30 and the mating housing 130, and when the mating connector 110 is inserted and fitted into the connector 10, the mating housing 130 is inserted and fitted into the housing 30.

[0018] Furthermore, the connector 10 includes a pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 that are arranged facing each other with a gap in a first orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction (FIGS. 1 to 6). The pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 can move relative to the housing 30 in the insertion / removal direction between a protection position (FIGS. 1 and 2) that protects the terminal connection portion 21 arranged between them and a retracted position (FIGS. 3, 4, and 6) that does not face the terminal connection portion 21 in the first orthogonal direction.

[0019] The terminal fittings 20 and the mating terminal fittings 120 are each formed from a conductive material such as metal. The terminal fittings 20 are male terminal fittings, and the terminal connection portions 21 are formed in the shape of a male terminal. In the connector 10, a plurality of these terminal fittings 20 may be provided, one for each pole, or the terminal fittings 20 may be prepared as a single component having a plurality of terminal connection portions 21 for each pole. The mating terminal fittings 120 are female terminal fittings, and the mating terminal connection portions 121 are formed in the shape of a female terminal into which the terminal connection portions 21 are fitted. In the mating connector 110, a plurality of these mating terminal fittings 120 may be provided, one for each pole, or the mating terminal fittings 120 may be prepared as a single component having a plurality of mating terminal connection portions 121 for each pole.

[0020] The terminal fitting 20 shown here has a plurality of axial terminal connection portions 21 and a linking portion 22 that electrically connects the plurality of terminal connection portions 21 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The terminal fitting 20 has five terminal connection portions 21 arranged in a first orthogonal direction. The connector 10 is equipped with two of these terminal fittings 20. In the connector 10, the two terminal fittings 20 are arranged side by side in a second orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction. The mating terminal fitting 120 shown here is provided for each pole (each terminal connection portion 21) (FIGS. 2 and 4). Although not shown, the ends of electric wires are physically and electrically connected to the mating terminal fittings 120.

[0021] The housing 30 and the mating housing 130 are each molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0022] The housing 30 has a housing body 31 formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and the terminal fittings 20 are housed and held inside the housing body 31 (FIGS. 1 to 6). In this housing 30, the connecting portions 22 are housed inside the housing body 31, and the terminal connection portions 21 protrude from one wall surface of the housing body 31 in the insertion / removal direction. For example, the housing 30 shown here is insert-molded around the terminal fittings 20 placed in a mold.

[0023] Furthermore, the housing 30 has a pair of fixed hood walls 32, 32 arranged opposite each other at a distance in the second orthogonal direction, and which, together with the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 in the protective position, surround and protect the terminal connection portion 21 arranged between them from all sides (Figures 1 to 3, 5 and 6).

[0024] The pair of fixed hood walls 32, 32 protrude in the same direction as the terminal connection portion 21 from a wall surface of the housing main body 31 from which the terminal connection portion 21 protrudes. The pair of fixed hood walls 32, 32 are each formed as a cantilevered rectangular flat plate of the same shape, and are arranged separately on one wall surface (hereinafter referred to as the "first wall surface") 31a side and the other wall surface (hereinafter referred to as the "second wall surface") 31b side in the second orthogonal direction of the housing main body 31 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 6). One of the fixed hood walls 32 has one outer flat surface arranged flush with the first wall surface 31a. The other fixed hood wall 32 has one outer flat surface arranged flush with the second wall surface 31b. In the following, the fixed hood wall 32 on the first wall surface 31a side will be referred to as the "first fixed hood wall 32A," and the fixed hood wall 32 on the second wall surface 31b side will be referred to as the "second fixed hood wall 32B," as necessary.

[0025] Here, the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 are formed to push the mating housing 130 from the protection position to the retracted position as the mating housing 130 is inserted and fitted into the housing 30. The movable hood wall 40 is mainly formed of a rectangular flat plate and is attached to the housing 30 so that a perpendicular line to the plane of the movable hood wall 40 is in the first orthogonal direction (FIGS. 1 to 6). One of the movable hood walls 40 is disposed on the side of one wall surface 31c (hereinafter referred to as the "third wall surface") of the housing main body 31 in the first orthogonal direction (FIGS. 1 to 6). The other movable hood wall 40 is disposed on the side of the other wall surface 31d (hereinafter referred to as the "fourth wall surface") of the housing main body 31 in the first orthogonal direction (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5). In the following, the movable hood wall 40 on the third wall surface 31c side will be referred to as the "first movable hood wall 40A," and the movable hood wall 40 on the fourth wall surface 31d side will be referred to as the "second movable hood wall 40B," as necessary.

[0026] The housing 30 further has guide portions 33 for each pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 that guide and hold the movable hood wall 40 between the protected position and the retracted position ( FIGS. 1 to 6 ). The guide portions 33 are provided on the first wall surface 31a side and the second wall surface 31b side of the third wall surface 31c of the housing main body 31, and on the first wall surface 31a side and the second wall surface 31b side of the fourth wall surface 31d of the housing main body 31. Each of the guide portions 33 has, at each of its four locations, a base portion 33a extending in the insertion / removal direction, and a guide groove 33b that is a groove formed in the base portion 33a and extending in the insertion / removal direction, and that fits over the end of the movable hood wall 40 in the second orthogonal direction to guide the movable hood wall 40 in the insertion / removal direction ( FIGS. 1 to 6 ).

[0027] The base 33a of the third wall surface 31c on the first wall surface 31a side is formed by a portion protruding in the first orthogonal direction from the end of the third wall surface 31c on the first wall surface 31a side and a portion extending in the first orthogonal direction from the end of the first fixed hood wall 32A on the third wall surface 31c side. The base 33a of the third wall surface 31c on the second wall surface 31b side is formed by a portion protruding in the first orthogonal direction from the end of the third wall surface 31c on the second wall surface 31b side and a portion extending in the first orthogonal direction from the end of the second fixed hood wall 32B on the third wall surface 31c side. The first movable hood wall 40A is fitted into opposing guide grooves 33b formed in each of the two bases 33a on the third wall surface 31c side. Furthermore, the base 33a of the fourth wall surface 31d on the first wall surface 31a side is formed by a portion protruding in the first orthogonal direction from the end of the fourth wall surface 31d on the first wall surface 31a side and a portion of the end of the first fixed hood wall 32A on the fourth wall surface 31d side extending in the first orthogonal direction. The base 33a of the fourth wall surface 31d on the second wall surface 31b side is formed by a portion protruding in the first orthogonal direction from the end of the fourth wall surface 31d on the second wall surface 31b side and a portion of the end of the second fixed hood wall 32B on the fourth wall surface 31d side extending in the first orthogonal direction. The second movable hood wall 40B is fitted into opposing guide grooves 33b formed in the two bases 33a on the fourth wall surface 31d side.

[0028] Furthermore, the housing 30 has hood wall locking portions 34 that protrude in the first orthogonal direction from the third wall surface 31c and the fourth wall surface 31d on the other wall surface side of the housing main body 31 in the insertion / removal direction, and lock the movable hood wall 40 at the retracted position after it has moved from the protection position to the retracted position (Figures 1 to 6).

[0029] This connector 10 is equipped with a first retention mechanism 51 that holds the movable hood wall 40 on the housing 30 in the protective position and releases the holding state on the housing 30 when it receives a pushing force from the mating housing 130 toward the retracted position, and a second retention mechanism 52 that holds the movable hood wall 40 on the housing 30 in the retracted position (Figures 1, 3 and 6).

[0030] The first retaining mechanism 51 shown here includes a retaining portion 53 provided on the movable hood wall 40 and a first retained portion 54 provided on the housing 30, which retains the retaining portion 53 in the protected position (FIG. 1). The first retaining mechanism 51 releases the retained state between the retaining portion 53 and the first retained portion 54 by bending the movable hood wall 40 when it is in the protected position. The direction of bending of the movable hood wall 40 may be either a first orthogonal direction or a second orthogonal direction. The second retaining mechanism 52 shown here includes the retaining portion 53 of the movable hood wall 40 and a second retained portion 55 provided on the housing 30, into which the retaining portion 53 is inserted and retained when it is in the retracted position (FIGS. 3 and 6). The second retaining mechanism 52 releases the retained state between the retaining portion 53 and the second retained portion 55 by bending the movable hood wall 40 when it is in the retracted position. The direction of the deflection of the movable hood wall 40 may be the first orthogonal direction or the second orthogonal direction.

[0031] The retaining portions 53 shown here are provided at each end of the movable hood wall 40 in the second orthogonal direction. These retaining portions 53 are convex portions that protrude in the second orthogonal direction from the end face of the end portion, and their outer wall surfaces are formed as arc-shaped surfaces of a circle whose axis is the first orthogonal direction. Meanwhile, the first retained portion 54 and the second retained portion 55 shown here are each provided on the guide groove 33b. These first retained portion 54 and the second retained portion 55 are each recessed portions formed by recessing a portion of the guide groove 33b in the second orthogonal direction and having the same shape as the retaining portion 53. Therefore, the inner wall surfaces of the first retained portion 54 and the second retained portion 55 are each formed as arc-shaped surfaces of a circle whose axis is the first orthogonal direction.

[0032] When the movable hood wall 40 is in the protected position, the first holding mechanism 51 fits the holding portion 53 into the first held portion 54, thereby holding the movable hood wall 40 in the protected position. Furthermore, when the movable hood wall 40 is in the retracted position, the second holding mechanism 52 fits the holding portion 53 into the second held portion 55, thereby holding the movable hood wall 40 in the retracted position.

[0033] The first retaining mechanism 51 and the second retaining mechanism 52 shown here each detach the retaining portion 53 from the first retained portion 54 and detach the retaining portion 53 from the second retained portion 55 by bending a portion of the movable hood wall 40 in the second orthogonal direction. The movable hood wall 40 shown here is capable of bending in the second orthogonal direction and has, for each retaining portion 53, a flexible portion 56a on which the retaining portion 53 is provided, and a through hole 56b which serves as an escape route for the flexible portion 56a when the retaining portion 53 is detached from the first retained portion 54 or the second retained portion 55 ( FIGS. 1 , 3 , and 6 ).

[0034] When the movable hood wall 40 from the protected position is pushed to the retracted position, the first retaining mechanism 51 applies a pushing force from the arcuate surface of the retaining portion 53 to the arcuate surface of the first retained portion 54, and the resulting reaction force from the arcuate surface of the first retained portion 54 causes the flexible portion 56a to bend and escape into the through-hole 56b, thereby detaching the retaining portion 53 from the first retained portion 54. This allows the movable hood wall 40 to move from the protected position to the retracted position. Furthermore, when the movable hood wall 40 from the retracted position is pushed to the protected position, the second retaining mechanism 52 applies a pushing force from the arcuate surface of the retaining portion 53 to the arcuate surface of the second retained portion 55, and the resulting reaction force from the arcuate surface of the second retained portion 55 causes the flexible portion 56a to bend and escape into the through-hole 56b, thereby detaching the retaining portion 53 from the second retained portion 55. This allows the movable hood wall 40 to move from the retracted position to the protective position.

[0035] The mating housing 130 has a mating housing main body 131 formed in a substantially parallelepiped shape, and the mating terminal fittings 120 are accommodated and held inside this mating housing main body 131 (FIGS. 1 to 4). In this mating housing 130, the mating terminal fittings 120 are accommodated in the mating housing main body 131 so as not to protrude from the mating housing main body 131. This mating housing 130 is inserted into the housing 30 and has an opening 130a (FIG. 2) in the mating housing main body 131 into which the terminal connecting portion 21 is inserted. The terminal connecting portion 21 inserted through the opening 130a is inserted into the mating terminal connecting portion 121 inside the mating housing main body 131.

[0036] The mating housing main body 131 has one wall surface (hereinafter referred to as the "first wall surface") 131a in the second orthogonal direction that is disposed opposite the inner wall surface of the first fixed hood wall 32A when the mating connection with the housing 30 is completed, and the other wall surface (hereinafter referred to as the "second wall surface") 131b in the second orthogonal direction that is disposed opposite the inner wall surface of the second fixed hood wall 32B when the mating connection is completed (FIG. 1). The mating housing main body 131 also has one wall surface (hereinafter referred to as the "third wall surface") 131c in the first orthogonal direction, and the other wall surface (hereinafter referred to as the "fourth wall surface") 131d in the first orthogonal direction (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0037] This mating connector 1 is configured to be able to connect multiple connectors 10 arranged in a first orthogonal direction when multiple connectors 10 are used according to the number of poles (FIGS. 7 to 11). For example, in this mating connector 1, a connecting tool such as a cylindrical frame that connects and holds multiple connectors 10 may be prepared as a separate part. However, in the mating connector 1 shown here, a connecting mechanism is provided in the connector 10. The connecting mechanism is provided in the housing 30.

[0038] The housing 30 has a first connected portion 61 to which an adjacent housing 30 of the same shape as the housing 30 is connected on one side in the first orthogonal direction (the third wall surface 31c side), and a first connecting portion 62 to which an adjacent housing 30 of the same shape as the housing 30 is connected on the other side in the first orthogonal direction (the fourth wall surface 31d side) (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6 to 11). In other words, in two connectors 10 adjacent to each other in the first orthogonal direction, the first connected portion 61 of the housing 30 of one connector 10 is connected to the first connecting portion 62 of the housing 30 of the other connector 10, thereby connecting the housings 30 to each other.

[0039] The first connected portions 61 are provided on the respective base portions 33a on the third wall surface 31c side. The first connected portions 61 shown here are provided outward in the first orthogonal direction from the guide grooves 33b in the base portions 33a. The first connected portions 61 are formed as recesses formed by cutting out the outer side of the base portions 33a. On the other hand, the first connecting portions 62 are provided on the respective base portions 33a on the fourth wall surface 31d side. The first connecting portions 62 shown here are provided outward in the first orthogonal direction from the guide grooves 33b in the base portions 33a. The first connecting portions 62 are formed as protrusions that are inserted and fitted into the first connected portions 61 in the second orthogonal direction. The first connected portions 61 and the first connecting portions 62 are formed in shapes that allow them to be inserted and fitted in the second orthogonal direction, but that prevent them from being pulled apart in the first orthogonal direction after insertion and fitting. Here, the first connected portion 61 and the first connecting portion 62 are formed so that the cross section orthogonal to the second orthogonal direction forms a trapezoid.

[0040] In this mating connector 1, when one connector 10 is mated with one mating connector 110, when the mating housing 130 of the mating connector 110 is inserted and mated into the housing 30 of that connector 10, the mating housing 130 is inserted between the pair of fixed hood walls 32, 32 while pushing and moving the two movable hood walls 40 in the protective position (FIGS. 1 to 4). Then, in this mating connector 1, when the mating connection of the housing 30 and the mating housing 130 is completed, the respective terminal connection portions 21 and the mating terminal connection portions 121 are mated and connected.

[0041] On the other hand, in this mating connector 1, when the number of poles is increased, multiple connectors 10 can be connected in accordance with the increased number of poles (FIGS. 7 to 11). In this case, a mating connector may be used that includes mating terminal fittings 120 corresponding to the number of poles in a single mating housing (not shown). In this mating connector 1, the mating housing of the mating connector is inserted into each of the housings 30 of each connector 10 in a connected state. In this mating connector 1, the mating housing is inserted between the pair of fixed hood walls 32, 32 of each connector 10 while pushing and moving all of the movable hood walls 40 in the protective position of each connector 10. Then, in this mating connector 1, when the mating connection of the housing 30 and the mating housing is completed, the terminal connecting portions 21 and the mating terminal connecting portions 121 are mated and connected.

[0042] Incidentally, the mating connector 1 shown here is configured to also connect multiple mating connectors 110 to each other in accordance with the increased number of poles (FIGS. 7 to 11). When multiple mating connectors 110 are used in accordance with the number of poles, this mating connector 1 is configured to be able to connect multiple mating connectors 110 arranged in a first orthogonal direction. For example, in this mating connector 1, a connecting tool such as a cylindrical frame that connects and holds multiple mating connectors 110 may be prepared as a separate part. However, in the mating connector 1 shown here, like connector 10, the mating connector 110 is provided with a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism is provided in the mating housing 130.

[0043] The mating housing 130 has a second connected portion 161 to which a mating housing 130 of the same shape as itself is connected and which is adjacently provided on one side in the first orthogonal direction (the third wall surface 131c side), and a second connecting portion 162 to which a mating housing 130 of the same shape as itself is connected and which is adjacently provided on the other side in the first orthogonal direction (the fourth wall surface 131d side) (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7 to 11). That is, in two mating connectors 110 adjacent in the first orthogonal direction, the mating housings 130 are connected to each other by connecting the second connected portion 161 of the mating housing 130 of one mating connector 110 with the second connecting portion 162 of the mating housing 130 of the other mating connector 110.

[0044] The second connected portion 161 is formed as a recess in the protruding portion 132 that protrudes from the third wall surface 131c (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7 to 11). On the other hand, the second connecting portion 162 is formed as a convex portion in the protruding portion 133 that protrudes from the fourth wall surface 131d that is inserted into and fitted with the second connected portion 161 in the second orthogonal direction (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7 to 11). The second connected portion 161 and the second connecting portion 162 are formed in a shape that allows them to be inserted and fitted in the second orthogonal direction, but prevents them from being pulled apart in the first orthogonal direction after insertion and fitting. Here, the second connected portion 161 and the second connecting portion 162 are formed so that their orthogonal cross sections with respect to the second orthogonal direction are trapezoidal.

[0045] In this manner, in this mating connector 1, when multiple combinations of connectors 10 and mating connectors 110 are provided according to the number of poles, the multiple connectors 10 can be coupled and multiple mating connectors 110 can be coupled according to the number of poles ( FIGS. 7 to 9 ). In this mating connector 1, the mating housings 130 in the coupled state of the mating connectors 110 are inserted and mated with the respective housings 30 in the coupled state of the respective connectors 10 ( FIGS. 8 to 11 ). In this mating connector 1, during the insertion and mating, the mating housings 130 in the coupled state push and move all of the movable hood walls 40 in the protective positions of the respective connectors 10, and are inserted between the pairs of fixed hood walls 32, 32 of the respective connectors 10. Then, in this mating connector 1, when the mating connection of the housing 30 and the mating housing 130 is completed, the respective terminal connection portions 21 and the mating terminal connection portions 121 are mated and connected.

[0046] In this mating connector 1, the movable hood wall 40 is pushed and moved by the respective protrusions 132, 133 of the mating housing .

[0047] This mating connector 1 is equipped with a locking mechanism that holds the connector 10 and the mating connector 110 in the mating connection completion position of the housing 30 and the mating housing 130. The housing 30 has a connector locking portion 35 that protrudes from the inner wall surface of one of the fixed hood walls (first fixed hood wall 32A) (FIG. 5). The mating housing 130 has a mating connector locking portion 135 that protrudes from the outer wall surface (first wall surface 131a) of the mating housing main body 131 that is disposed opposite the inner wall surface of the first fixed hood wall 32A in the mating connection completion position (FIG. 1). The connector locking portion 35 is disposed opposite the mating connector locking portion 135 in the mating connection completion position, thereby locking the movement of the mating housing 130 in the removal direction relative to the housing 30 and holding the connector 10 and the mating connector 110 in the mating connection completion position.

[0048] For example, the connector locking portion 35 shown here is formed in a claw shape. The mating connector locking portion 135 shown here has an elastically deformable cantilevered flexible piece 135a that is provided in a protruding state on the first wall surface 131a of the mating housing main body 131, and an opposing portion 135b that is provided at or near the free end of the flexible piece 135a and is arranged to face the connector locking portion 35 at the mating connection completion position (FIG. 1). When the mating housing 130 is inserted and mated into the housing 30, the flexible piece 135a is pushed and moved by the connector locking portion 35, causing the flexible piece 135a to bend, and when the mating connection is completed, the bending of the flexible piece 135a is released, causing the opposing portion 135b to be arranged to face the connector locking portion 35. When the mating housing 130 is removed from the housing 30, the free end of the flexible piece 135a is pushed and moved to bend the flexible piece 135a, thereby releasing the opposing arrangement state of the opposing portion 135b relative to the connector locking portion 35.

[0049] Here, the housing 30 has a connector guide portion 36 provided on one of the fixed hood walls 32, which guides the mating housing 130 to the mating connection completion position with the mating housing 130 (FIGS. 1, 5, and 6). The connector guide portion 36 shown here is provided in a protruding state on the inner wall surface of the first fixed hood wall 32A. Here, the connector guide portion 36 is formed in the shape of a rib extending in the insertion / removal direction. Also, here, the connector guide portions 36 are provided as a pair of connector guide portions 36 that are arranged facing each other at a distance in the first orthogonal direction with the connector locking portion 35 therebetween, and when in the mating connection completion position, the connector locking portion 35 and the mating connector locking portion 135 (here, the opposing portion 135b) are located between them in the first orthogonal direction.

[0050] As described above, in the connector 10 of this embodiment, both ends of the hood in the first orthogonal direction are movable hood walls 40 that are movable in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the mating connector 110 between a protective position and a retracted position. Therefore, the connector 10 can protect the terminal connection portions 21 therein by the movable hood wall 40 and the fixed hood wall 32 until mating connection with the mating connector 110 is made. If the connector 10 is mated with a single mating connector 110, the mating connector 110 can be mated and connected by pushing and moving the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 with the mating housing 130 of the mating connector 110 from the protective position to the retracted position. Furthermore, if the connector 10 is to be mated with a series of multiple mating connectors 110, it can be mated with the same number of mating connectors 110 in the first orthogonal direction, and the mating housings 130 of the series of multiple mating connectors 110 can be used to push all of the movable hood walls 40 from the protective position to the retracted position, thereby mating and connecting the series of multiple mating connectors 110. As mentioned above, the mating connector may be a single mating housing that includes the same number of mating terminal fittings 120 as the number of poles in the series of multiple mating connectors 110. Thus, the hooded connector 10 of this embodiment has the protective function of the terminal connection portions 21 provided by the movable hood wall 40 and the fixed hood wall 32, while also being connectable according to the number of poles. Therefore, it can be used singly or as a series of multiple connectors depending on the number of poles. Therefore, the connector 10 of this embodiment can be standardized.

[0051] The mating connector 1 of this embodiment includes such a connector 10 and can achieve the same effects as those achieved by this connector 10. Furthermore, when the mating connector 1 of this embodiment includes multiple combinations of connector 10 and mating connector 110 according to the number of poles, the mating connectors 110 can also be connected according to the number of poles, so that it can be used as a single connector or as a multiple-connection assembly according to the number of poles. Therefore, the mating connector 1 of this embodiment also makes it possible to standardize the mating connectors 110.

[0052] In the connector 10 of this embodiment, by adding a blocking wall 45 to the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 (i.e., by providing a protective member including the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 and the blocking wall 45), it is possible to protect the terminal connection portions 21, prevent finger contact with the terminal connection portions 21, and prevent dust from entering (FIGS. 12 to 18). The blocking wall 45 is a wall that closes the opening formed by the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 and the pair of fixed hood walls 32, 32 in the protected position. Therefore, the blocking wall 45 is connected to each end of the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 on the protected position side. The blocking wall 45 is formed with a terminal insertion hole 45a through which the terminal connection portion 21 is inserted in the retracted position (FIGS. 12, 13, 17, and 18). The terminal insertion hole 45a is provided for each terminal connection portion 21. Furthermore, in this blocking wall 45, a notch 45b for avoiding the connector guide portion 36 is formed for each connector guide portion 36 (FIGS. 12, 17, and 18). In addition to the effects described above, the connector 10 and the mating connector 1 of this embodiment can, by means of the blocking wall 45, enhance the protective effect of the terminal connection portion 21 and prevent fingers from touching the terminal connection portion 21, and further, can prevent dust from entering the inside of the hood (the space surrounded by the pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 in the protective position and the pair of fixed hood walls 32, 32).

[0053] In this connector 10, when a terminal fitting 20 is provided for each pole, the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 30a of the housing 30 for each terminal fitting 20 through the wire outlet 30b, and the wire connecting portion 23 of the terminal fitting 20 is accommodated in the accommodating chamber 30a (FIGS. 12, 13, and 16). In this connector 10, although not shown, an electric wire is physically and electrically connected to the wire connecting portion 23 and is pulled out from the wire outlet 30b. In this connector 10, the wire connecting portion 23 is locked in the accommodating chamber 30a by an elastically deformable terminal locked portion (so-called lance) 30c so that the terminal fitting 20 does not slip out of the wire outlet 30b (FIG. 16). The terminal locked portion 30c elastically deforms in a direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction, and the resilient force associated with the elastic deformation causes the claw portion 30d to face the terminal locking portion 24 of the terminal fitting 20 at the wire outlet 30b side. To maintain this facing state, the blocking wall 45 is provided with a protrusion 45c for each accommodating chamber 30a (FIGS. 16 and 18). The protrusion 45c is inserted between the terminal locked portion 30c and the inner wall surface of the accommodating chamber 30a in the retracted position and prevents the terminal locked portion 30c from elastically deforming (FIG. 17). The protrusion 45c is inserted through the insertion opening 31e of the housing body 31.

[0054] [Variation 1] The mating connector 2 of this modified example includes at least one connector that can be inserted into or removed from the other connector and the same number of mating connectors (FIGS. 19 to 27). For ease of explanation, the connector 10 of the above-described embodiment is used as the connector. The mating connector 2 of this modified example uses the following examples as mating connectors, either singly or in combination.

[0055] The mating connector 2 of this modified example can be broadly divided into cases where one mating connector is mated and connected to one connector 10, where two mating connectors in a mated state are mated and connected to two mating connectors in a mated state, and where three or more mating connectors 10 in a mated state are mated and connected to the same number of mating connectors in a mated state. Therefore, in the mating connector 2 of this modified example, multiple types of mating connectors corresponding to the three forms of one type of connector 10 are prepared.

[0056] In the mating connector 2 shown here, when one connector 10 is mated with one mating connector, a reference mating connector 110A is used as the one mating connector (FIGS. 19 to 21). In addition, in the mating connector 2 shown here, when two coupled connectors 10 are mated with two coupled mating connectors, a first mating connector 110B and a second mating connector 110C are used as the two mating connectors (FIGS. 22 to 24). In addition, in the mating connector 2 shown here, when three or more coupled connectors 10 are mated with the same number of coupled mating connectors, a first mating connector 110B, a second mating connector 110C, and at least one or more third mating connectors 110D are used as the three or more mating connectors (FIGS. 25 to 27). In other words, in the mating connector 2 shown here, four types of mating connectors (reference mating connector 110A, first mating connector 110B, second mating connector 110C, and third mating connector 110D) are used to perform the above three types of mating connections for the same number of connectors 10.

[0057] The reference mating connector 110A has a mating housing 130A that is accommodated between a pair of movable hood walls 40, 40 in the protected position when the mating connection with the housing 30 is completed (FIGS. 19 to 21 and 28). The reference mating connector 110A shown here is the mating connector 110 of the above-described embodiment, with the mating housing 130 replaced with a mating housing 130A. This mating housing 130A is the mating housing 130 of the embodiment, with the second coupled portion 161 and the second connecting portion 162 removed along with the protrusions 132, 133. In the mating connector 1 of the embodiment, the protrusions 132, 133 push the movable hood wall 40 from the protected position to the retracted position. Therefore, in the mating connector 2 of this modification, when one connector 10 is to be mated with only one mating connector, the reference mating connector 110A is used as the mating connector. As a result, in this mating connector 2, by mating and connecting one reference mating connector 110A to one connector 10, the mating housing 130A is accommodated between the two movable hood walls 40 located outermost in the first orthogonal direction of the connector 10, while maintaining these two movable hood walls 40 in a protective position.

[0058] The first mating connector 110B has a mating housing 130B (FIGS. 22 to 27). The second mating connector 110C has a mating housing 130C (FIGS. 22 to 27). The third mating connector 110D has a mating housing 130D (FIGS. 25 to 27).

[0059] The first mating connector 110B and the second mating connector 110C are configured to enable coupling of the mating housings 130B, 130C to each other in a first orthogonal direction (FIGS. 22 to 24). The third mating connector 110D is configured to be arranged side by side between the first mating connector 110B and the second mating connector 110C in the first orthogonal direction and to couple them together (FIGS. 25 to 27). When one third mating connector 110D is interposed between the first mating connector 110B and the second mating connector 110C, the third mating connector 110D couples its own mating housing 130D to the mating housing 130B of the first mating connector 110B and the mating housing 130C of the second mating connector 110C. Furthermore, when this third mating connector 110D is arranged in multiple rows in the first orthogonal direction between the first mating connector 110B and the second mating connector 110C, one end of the multiple mating housings 130D is connected to the mating housing 130B of the first mating connector 110B, and the other end of the multiple mating housings 130D is connected to the mating housing 130C of the second mating connector 110C, thereby connecting the multiple mating housings 130D together.

[0060] When mating and connecting the two connectors 10 in a connected state, the mating housings 130B, 130C of the first mating connector 110B and the second mating connector 110C are inserted and mated in a connected state into the respective housings 30 in a connected state of the respective connectors 10, and are formed so that the two movable hood walls 40 located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are kept in a protective position, while all remaining movable hood walls 40 other than these two movable hood walls 40 are pushed from the protective position to the retracted position (Figures 22 to 24). Furthermore, the mating housings 130B, 130C, and 130D of the first mating connector 110B, the second mating connector 110C, and the third mating connector 110D are inserted and fitted in a connected state into the respective housings 30 of the respective connectors 10 in a connected state, and are configured to keep the two movable hood walls 40 located outermost in the first orthogonal direction in a protective position, while pushing all of the remaining movable hood walls 40 other than these two movable hood walls 40 from the protective position to the retracted position (Figures 25 to 27).

[0061] The first mating connector 110B shown here is the mating connector 110 of the above-described embodiment, with the mating housing 130 replaced with a mating housing 130B (FIGS. 22 to 27 and 29). This mating housing 130B is the mating housing 130 of the above-described embodiment, with the second coupling portion 162 and the protruding portion 133 removed. The second mating connector 110C shown here is the mating connector 110 of the above-described embodiment, with the mating housing 130 replaced with a mating housing 130C (FIGS. 22 to 27 and 30). This mating housing 130C is the mating housing 130 of the above-described embodiment, with the second coupled portion 161 and the protruding portion 132 removed. The second mating connector 110C shown here is the mating connector 110 of the above-described embodiment itself (FIGS. 25 to 27 and 31).

[0062] Therefore, the mating housing 130B of the first mating connector 110B has a second coupled portion 161 to which the mating housing 130C of the adjacent second mating connector 110C or the mating housing 130D of the adjacent third mating connector 110D, which are arranged adjacently on one side in the first orthogonal direction, are coupled (FIGS. 22 to 27 and 29). Also, the mating housing 130C of the second mating connector 110C has a second coupling portion 162 to which the mating housing 130B of the adjacent first mating connector 110B or the mating housing 130D of the adjacent third mating connector 110D, which are arranged adjacently on the other side in the first orthogonal direction, are coupled (FIGS. 22 to 27 and 30). In addition, the mating housing 130D of the third mating connector 110D has a second connected portion 161 to which the mating housing 130C of the adjacent second mating connector 110C or the mating housing 130D of the adjacent third mating connector 110D located adjacent to it on one side in the first orthogonal direction is connected, and has a second connecting portion 162 to which the mating housing 130B of the adjacent first mating connector 110B or the mating housing 130D of the adjacent third mating connector 110D located adjacent to it on the other side in the first orthogonal direction is connected (Figures 25 to 27 and 31).

[0063] Therefore, in the mating connector 2, when the mating connection targets for the two connected connectors 10 are two connected mating connectors, a first mating connector 110B and a second mating connector 110C are used as the two mating connectors (FIGS. 22 to 24). As a result, in this mating connector 2, a second connected portion 161 of the first mating connector 110B is connected to a second connecting portion 162 of the second mating connector 110C. In the connected state, the first mating connector 110B and the second mating connector 110C do not have protrusions 132, 133 at both ends in the first orthogonal direction that push the movable hood wall 40 from the protecting position to the retracted position. Therefore, in this case, in the mating connector 2, by mating and connecting the first mating connector 110B and the second mating connector 110C in a connected state to the two connectors 10 in that connected state, the two movable hood walls 40 located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are kept in a protective position, and all of the remaining movable hood walls 40 other than these two movable hood walls 40 are pushed from the protective position to the retracted position by their respective mating housings 130B, 130C.

[0064] Furthermore, in this mating connector 2, when the mating connection targets for the three connectors 10 in the coupled state are three mating connectors in the coupled state, first mating connector 110B, second mating connector 110C, and third mating connector 110D are used as the three mating connectors (FIGS. 25 to 27). As a result, in this mating connector 2, second coupled portion 161 of first mating connector 110B is coupled to second coupling portion 162 of third mating connector 110D, and second coupled portion 161 of third mating connector 110D is coupled to second coupling portion 162 of second mating connector 110C. In first mating connector 110B, second mating connector 110C, and third mating connector 110D in the coupled state, protrusions 132, 133 that push movable hood wall 40 from the protecting position to the retracted position are not present at both ends in the first orthogonal direction. Therefore, in this case, in the mating connector 2, by mating and connecting the first mating connector 110B, the second mating connector 110C, and the third mating connector 110D in a connected state to the two connectors 10 in that connected state, the two movable hood walls 40 located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are maintained in a protective position, and all of the remaining movable hood walls 40 other than these two movable hood walls 40 are pushed from the protective position to the retracted position by their respective mating housings 130B, 130C, 130D.

[0065] Furthermore, in this mating connector 2, when the mating connection targets for four or more mated connectors 10 are the same number of mating connectors, a first mating connector 110B, a second mating connector 110C, and at least two third mating connectors 110D are used as the four or more mating connectors (not shown). As a result, in this mating connector 2, the second coupled portion 161 of the first mating connector 110B is coupled to the second connecting portion 162 of the third mating connector 110D adjacent to the first mating connector 110B, the second connecting portion 162 of the second mating connector 110C is coupled to the second coupled portion 161 of the third mating connector 110D adjacent to the second mating connector 110C, and the second coupled portions 161 and second connecting portions 162 of adjacent third mating connectors 110D aligned in the first orthogonal direction are coupled to each other. In the first mating connector 110B, the second mating connector 110C, and the at least two third mating connectors 110D in the coupled state, there are no protrusions 132, 133 at both ends in the first orthogonal direction that would push the movable hood wall 40 from the protecting position to the retracted position. Therefore, in the mating connector 2 in this case, by mating and connecting the first mating connector 110B, the second mating connector 110C, and the at least two third mating connectors 110D in the coupled state to the two connectors 10 in the coupled state, the two movable hood walls 40 located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are kept in the protecting position, and all of the remaining movable hood walls 40 other than these two movable hood walls 40 are pushed from the protecting position to the retracted position by the respective mating housings 130B, 130C, 130D.

[0066] As described above, in the mating connector 2 of this modified example, whether the connector 10 and the mating connector are a single or multiple combination, the two movable hood walls 40 located outermost in the first orthogonal direction and the respective fixed hood walls 32 form a cylindrical hood even after mating connection, whether the single connector 10 or the connected connectors 10 are mated together. Therefore, this mating connector 2 allows for connection according to the number of poles of the hooded connector 10, while also being able to surround the mating housing (mating housings 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D) with the hood, thereby enhancing protection from the outside, such as when subjected to external force. Furthermore, the mating connector 2 of this modified example can be created with one type of connector 10 and four types of mating connectors (reference mating connector 110A, first mating connector 110B, second mating connector 110C, and third mating connector 110D). Therefore, the mating connector 2 of this modified example can be standardized while enhancing the protection function for the mating connector.

[0067] [Variation 2] The mating connector 3 of this modified example includes a set of a first connector 210 and a first mating connector 310 that are insertable and removable from each other along an insertion / removal direction, and a set of a second connector 410 and a second mating connector 510 that are insertable and removable from each other along the same insertion / removal direction as the first connector 210 and the first mating connector 310 (FIGS. 32 to 37). The usage patterns of this mating connector 3 are roughly divided into a pattern in which the first connector 210 and the first mating connector 310 are mated and connected (FIGS. 32 to 34), a pattern in which the second connector 410 and the second mating connector 510 are mated and connected (FIGS. 32 to 34), and a pattern in which the first connector 210 and the second connector 410 in a coupled state are mated and connected to the first mating connector 310 and the second mating connector 510 in a coupled state (FIGS. 35 to 37).

[0068] The first connector 210 is obtained by replacing the terminal fittings 20, housing 30, and movable hood wall 40 of the connector 10 of the above-described embodiment with terminal fittings 220, a housing (hereinafter referred to as the "first housing") 230, and a movable hood wall 240 described below (FIGS. 32 to 37). The second connector 410 is obtained by replacing the terminal fittings 20, housing 30, and movable hood wall 40 of the connector 10 of the above-described embodiment with terminal fittings 220, a housing (hereinafter referred to as the "second housing") 430, and a movable hood wall 240 described below (FIGS. 32 to 37). Although reference numerals are omitted in the figures, the first connector 210 and the second connector 410 each have the same first retention mechanism 51 and second retention mechanism 52 as the connector 10 of the embodiment. In other words, the first connector 210 and the second connector 410 each have the same terminal fittings 220 and a pair of movable hood walls 240, but by changing the shape of their housings, they form different connectors.

[0069] The terminal fitting 220 has a plurality of terminal connection portions 221 arranged at the same inter-terminal pitch Pt (FIG. 38). The terminal fitting 220 shown here has one less pole than the previously described terminal fitting 20, and has five axial terminal connection portions 221 and linking portions 222 (FIGS. 34 and 37).

[0070] In the first housing 230 and the second housing 430, similar to the housing 30 described above, the terminal fittings 220 are housed with the multiple terminal connection portions 221 protruding and the arrangement direction of the multiple terminal connection portions 221 aligned in a first orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction (FIG. 34). In the first housing 230 and the second housing 430, similar to the housing 30, two terminal fittings 220 are each arranged side by side in a second orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction (FIG. 38). Similar to the movable hood wall 40 described above, the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 are arranged opposite each other at a distance in the first orthogonal direction in the first housing 230 and the second housing 430, and are arranged so as to be able to move relative to each other in the insertion / removal direction between a protective position that protects the multiple terminal connection portions 221 arranged between the opposing opposing wall surfaces 241, 241 (Figures 32, 35 and 38) and a retracted position that does not position the multiple terminal connection portions 221 opposite each other in the first orthogonal direction.

[0071] Similar to the housing 30 described above, the first housing 230 has a housing main body 231 formed in a substantially rectangular shape and a pair of cantilevered, rectangular, flat fixed hood walls 232, 232 arranged opposite each other with a gap in the second orthogonal direction ( FIGS. 32 and 35 ). Similarly to the housing 30, in the first housing 230, each terminal connection portion 221 protrudes from one wall surface of the housing main body 231 in the insertion / removal direction to between the pair of fixed hood walls 232, 232. Similar to the connector 10, in the first connector 210, each terminal connection portion 221 is protected by being surrounded on all four sides by the pair of fixed hood walls 232, 232 and the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 in the protective position.

[0072] Similar to the first housing 230, the second housing 430 has a housing main body 431 formed in a substantially rectangular shape and a pair of cantilevered, rectangular, flat fixed hood walls 432, 432 arranged opposite each other with a gap in the second orthogonal direction ( FIGS. 32 and 35 ). Similarly to the first housing 230, in the second housing 430, each terminal connection portion 221 protrudes from one wall surface of the housing main body 431 in the insertion / removal direction to between the pair of fixed hood walls 432, 432. Similar to the first connector 210, in the second connector 410, each terminal connection portion 221 is protected by being surrounded on all four sides by the pair of fixed hood walls 432, 432 and the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 in the protective position.

[0073] The first housing 230 and the second housing 430 each hold a pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 with the opposing wall surfaces 241, 241 spaced apart by the same distance Sf ( FIG. 38 ). For ease of explanation, one of the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 will be referred to as the “first movable hood wall 240A,” and the other will be referred to as the “second movable hood wall 240B.” In the first connector 210 and the second connector 410, the first movable hood wall 240A and the second movable hood wall 240B are arranged in a mutually opposite relationship in the first orthogonal direction ( FIGS. 32 , 35 , and 38 ). In other words, the first housing 230 and the second housing 430 hold the first movable hood wall 240A and the second movable hood wall 240B in a mutually opposite relationship in the first orthogonal direction.

[0074] The first housing 230 and the second housing 430 differ in the arrangement of the terminal fittings 220 in the first orthogonal direction (FIGS. 34 and 38).

[0075] First housing 230 is offset by two pitches (2Pt) at the inter-terminal pitch Pt from opposing wall surface 241 of first movable hood wall 240A held by first housing 230 toward second movable hood wall 240B, and is also offset by 1.5 pitches (1.5Pt) at the inter-terminal pitch Pt from end face 230a of the end on the second movable hood wall 240B side toward first movable hood wall 240A to accommodate terminal fittings 220 (FIG. 38). In contrast, second housing 430 is offset by two pitches (2Pt) at the inter-terminal pitch Pt from opposing wall surface 241 of first movable hood wall 240A held by first housing 230 toward second movable hood wall 240B, and is also offset by two pitches (2Pt) at the inter-terminal pitch Pt from end face 430a of the end on the second movable hood wall 240B side toward first movable hood wall 240A to accommodate terminal fittings 220 (FIG. 38). As previously described, the first housing 230 and the second housing 430 hold the first movable hood wall 240A and the second movable hood wall 240B in an inverted arrangement in the first orthogonal direction, and are therefore formed in different shapes.

[0076] The first housing 230 has a connector locking portion 235 similar to the connector locking portion 35 of the housing 30 described above (FIG. 38). This connector locking portion 235 is disposed on the first housing 230 so that its center in the first orthogonal direction is at a position offset from the opposing wall surface 241 of the first movable hood wall 240A toward the second movable hood wall 240B by 3.5 pitches (3.5Pt) at the inter-terminal pitch Pt (a position offset from the end face 230a of the end on the second movable hood wall 240B side by 3 pitches (3Pt) at the inter-terminal pitch Pt) . The second housing 430 also has a connector locking portion 435 similar to the connector locking portion 35 of the housing 30 described above (FIG. 38). This connector locking portion 435 is positioned in the second housing 430 so that the position offset by 3.5 pitches (3.5Pt) at the terminal pitch Pt from the opposing wall surface 241 of the first movable hood wall 240A toward the second movable hood wall 240B (the position offset by 3.5 pitches (3.5Pt) at the terminal pitch Pt from the end face 430a of the end on the second movable hood wall 240B side toward the first movable hood wall 240A) is centered in the first orthogonal direction.

[0077] Furthermore, the first housing 230 has connector guide portions 236 similar to the connector guide portions 36 of the housing 30 described above (FIGS. 32 and 38). These connector guide portions 236 are arranged one by one at equal distances from the center of the connector locking portion 235 on one side and the other side in the first orthogonal direction. Furthermore, the second housing 430 has connector guide portions 436 similar to the connector guide portions 36 of the housing 30 described above (FIGS. 32 and 38). These connector guide portions 436 are arranged one by one at equal distances from the center of the connector locking portion 435 on one side and the other side in the first orthogonal direction. Here, the distance from the center of the connector locking portion 235 to the connector guide portions 236 in the first orthogonal direction is the same as the distance from the center of the connector locking portion 435 to the connector guide portions 436 in the first orthogonal direction.

[0078] The first housing 230 and the second housing 430 are formed so that they can be connected with their end faces 230a, 430a on the second movable hood wall 240B side in surface contact. The first housing 230 has a mating protrusion 260 at its end on the second movable hood wall 240B side that it holds, which protrudes beyond the end face 230a of that end (FIG. 32). This mating protrusion 260 is similar to the first connecting portion 62 of the housing 30 described above. The second housing 430 has a mating recess 460 at its end on the second movable hood wall 240B side that it holds, which is recessed beyond the end face 430a of that end (FIG. 32). This mating recess 460 is similar to the first connected portion 61 of the housing 30 described above. The first housing 230 and the second housing 430 are connected to each other by mating connection between the mating protrusion 260 and the mating recess 460.

[0079] The first mating connector 310 is obtained by replacing the mating terminal fittings 120 and the mating housing 130 in the mating connector 110 of the above-described embodiment with the following mating terminal fittings 320 and mating housing (hereinafter referred to as the "first mating housing") 330 (Figs. 32 to 37). Moreover, the second mating connector 510 is obtained by replacing the mating terminal fittings 120 and the mating housing 130 in the mating connector 110 of the above-described embodiment with the following mating terminal fittings 320 and mating housing (hereinafter referred to as the "second mating housing") 530 (Figs. 32 to 37). In other words, while the first mating connector 310 and the second mating connector 510 each have the same mating terminal fittings 320, they are different connectors due to the different shapes of their housings.

[0080] The mating terminal fittings 320 have mating terminal connecting portions 321 that are fitted and connected to the terminal connecting portions 221 of the terminal fittings 220, and are provided for each terminal connecting portion 221 of the terminal fittings 220 (Figures 34 and 37). The mating terminal fittings 320 shown here are the same as the mating terminal fittings 120 described above.

[0081] The first mating housing 330 is formed so that its maximum value in the first orthogonal direction is the same as the distance Sf between the opposing wall surfaces 241, 241 of the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 of the first connector 210 ( FIGS. 34 and 37 ). In other words, the first mating housing 330 is formed into a shape that is fitted between the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 of the first connector 210 when the first connector 210 and the first mating connector 310 are mated and connected. In the first mating housing 330 shown here, the distance in the first orthogonal direction between an end face 330a on the first movable hood wall 240A side and an end face 330b on the second movable hood wall 240B side when the first connector 210 and the first mating connector 310 are mated and connected is formed to be the same as the distance Sf between the opposing wall surfaces 241, 241.

[0082] Like the previously described mating housing 130, this first mating housing 330 has a mating housing main body 331 formed in a substantially parallelepiped shape, and multiple mating terminal fittings 320 are accommodated and held inside this mating housing main body 331 (FIG. 34). Like the mating housing main body 131 of the mating housing 130, the mating housing main body 331 has openings for each terminal connection portion 221 that align with the positions of all of the terminal connection portions 221 of the two terminal fittings 220, and the terminal connection portions 221 inserted through these openings are inserted into the inner mating terminal connection portions 321.

[0083] Like the first mating housing 330, the second mating housing 530 is formed so that its maximum value in the first orthogonal direction is the same as the distance Sf between the opposing wall surfaces 241, 241 of the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 of the second connector 410 ( FIGS. 34 and 37 ). In other words, the second mating housing 530 is formed into a shape that is fitted between the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 of the second connector 410 when the second connector 410 and the second mating connector 510 are mated and connected. In the second mating housing 530 shown here, the distance between an end face 530a on the first movable hood wall 240A side and an end face 530b on the second movable hood wall 240B side when the second connector 410 and the second mating connector 510 are mated and connected is the same as the distance Sf between the opposing wall surfaces 241, 241.

[0084] Like the first mating housing 330, the second mating housing 530 has a mating housing main body 531 formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and multiple mating terminal fittings 320 are accommodated and held inside this mating housing main body 531 (FIG. 34). Like the first mating housing 330, the mating housing main body 531 has openings for each terminal connection portion 221 that align with the positions of all of the terminal connection portions 221 of the two terminal fittings 220, and the terminal connection portions 221 inserted through these openings are inserted into the mating terminal connection portions 321 inside.

[0085] The first mating housing 330 has a mating connector locking portion 335 that functions similarly to the mating connector locking portion 135 of the mating housing 130 described above (FIG. 32). This first mating housing 330 holds the first connector 210 and the first mating connector 310 in the mating connection completion position by locking the mating connector locking portion 335 with the connector locking portion 235 of the first housing 230 when the first mating housing 330 is in the mating connection completion position. For this reason, the mating connector locking portion 335 is positioned so that its center position in the first orthogonal direction is aligned with the center position of the connector locking portion 235 in the first orthogonal direction. In addition, the second mating housing 530 has a mating connector locking portion 535 that functions similarly to the mating connector locking portion 135 of the mating housing 130 described above (FIG. 32). This second mating housing 530 holds the second connector 410 and the second mating connector 510 in the mating connection completion position by locking the mating connector locking portion 535 with the connector locking portion 435 of the second housing 430. For this reason, the mating connector locking portion 535 is positioned so that its center position in the first orthogonal direction is aligned with the center position of the connector locking portion 435 in the first orthogonal direction.

[0086] Furthermore, the first mating housing 330 is provided with connector guide grooves 336, with the mating connector locking portion 335 interposed therebetween, on one side and the other side in the first orthogonal direction relative to the mating connector locking portion 335 (FIG. 32). The connector guide grooves 336 are guide grooves into which the connector guide portions 236 of the first housing 230 are fitted and guided when the first connector 210 and the first mating connector 310 are mated and connected. The second mating housing 530 is provided with connector guide grooves 536, with the mating connector locking portion 535 interposed therebetween, on one side and the other side in the first orthogonal direction relative to the mating connector locking portion 535 (FIG. 32). The connector guide grooves 536 are guide grooves into which the connector guide portions 436 of the second housing 430 are fitted and guided when the second connector 410 and the second mating connector 510 are mated and connected.

[0087] The first mating housing 330 has a mating fitting recess 360 recessed from an end face 330a of the end at an end that faces the first movable hood wall 240A of the first connector 210 when mated with the first connector 210 (FIG. 32). This mating fitting recess 360 is similar to the second connected portion 161 of the mating housing 130 described above. The second mating housing 530 also has a mating fitting protrusion 560 at an end that faces the first movable hood wall 240A of the second connector 410 when mated with the second connector 410 (FIG. 32). The mating fitting protrusion 560 is configured to connect the first mating housing 330 to the mating fitting recess 360 with the end face 530a at the maximum protruding position. This mating fitting protrusion 560 is similar to the second connecting portion 162 of the mating housing 130 described above.

[0088] The first mating housing 330 and the second mating housing 530 are connected by fitting and connecting their mating recesses 360 and mating protrusions 560, and while in this connected state, they are fitted and connected to the first housing 230 and the second housing 430, which are already in the previously connected state (Figures 35 to 37).

[0089] When the connectors are mated, the first mating housing 330 and the second mating housing 530 in this connected state push the second movable hood walls 240B of the first housing 230 and the second housing 430 in this connected state from the protective position to the retracted position, while keeping the first movable hood walls 240A of the first housing 230 and the second housing 430 in this connected state in the protective position (Figure 37).

[0090] Furthermore, with the first mating connector 310 and the second mating connector 510 in this coupled state, the first mating housing 330 is inserted into the second housing 430, and the second mating housing 530 is inserted into the first housing 230. During this insertion, the connector guide grooves 336 of the first mating housing 330 are guided by the connector guide portions 436 of the second housing 430, and the mating connector locking portions 335 are locked with the connector locking portions 435 of the second housing 430 at the mating connection completion position. Therefore, in this first mating housing 330, the terminal connecting portions 221 of the terminal fittings 220 held by the second housing 430 are inserted into the mating terminal connecting portions 321 of the mating terminal fittings 320 housed in the first mating housing 330. Furthermore, in the second mating housing 530, the respective connector guide grooves 536 are guided by the respective connector guide portions 236 of the first housing 230, and the mating connector locking portions 535 are locked with the connector locking portions 235 of the first housing 230 at the mating connection completion position. Therefore, in this second mating housing 530, the terminal connecting portions 221 of the terminal fittings 220 held by the first housing 230 are inserted into the mating terminal connecting portions 321 of the mating terminal fittings 320 accommodated in the second mating housing 530 itself.

[0091] As described above, in the mating connector 3 of this modified example, when the first connector 210 and the first mating connector 310 are mated and connected, the pair of fixed hood walls 232, 232 and the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 remain to form a cylindrical hood even after the mating connection. Furthermore, in the mating connector 3 of this modified example, when the second connector 410 and the second mating connector 510 are mated and connected, the pair of fixed hood walls 432, 432 and the pair of movable hood walls 240, 240 remain to form a cylindrical hood even after the mating connection. Furthermore, in the mating connector 3 of this modified example, when the first connector 210 and second connector 410 in a connected state are mated with the first mating connector 310 and second mating connector 510 in a connected state, the two movable hood walls 240, 240 (two first movable hood walls 240A, 240A) located outermost in the first orthogonal direction and their respective fixed hood walls 232, 232, 432, 432 form a cylindrical hood even after mating connection. Therefore, this mating connector 3 enables connection of hooded connectors (first connector 210, second connector 410) according to the number of poles, and whether the first connector 210 or the second connector 410 is used alone or the first connector 210 and the second connector 410 are used together, the hood can surround the mating housing (first mating housing 330, second mating housing 530, or the first mating housing 330 and second mating housing 530 in a connected state), thereby improving protection from the outside when subjected to external force, etc. In addition, in the mating connector 3 of this modified example, the improved protection function can be created using two types of connectors (first connector 210, second connector 410) and two types of mating connectors (first mating connector 310, second mating connector 510). Therefore, the mating connector 3 of this modified example can improve the protection function of the mating connector while promoting standardization. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1,2,3 Mating Connector 10 Connectors 20 Terminal fittings 21 Terminal connection part 30 Housing 32 Fixed Hood Wall 32A First fixed hood wall 32B Second fixed hood wall 33 Guide section 36 Connector guide 40 Movable Hood Wall 40A First Movable Hood Wall 40B Second movable hood wall 45 Blocking wall 45a Terminal insertion hole 51 1st holding mechanism 52 Second holding mechanism 61 1st connected part 62 1st connection part 110 Mating Connector 110A Reference Mating Connector 110B 1st Mating Connector 110C Second Mating Connector 110D 3rd Mating Connector 120 Mating terminal fitting 121 Counterparty terminal connection part 130, 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D Mating housing 161 2nd connected part 162 2nd connection part 210 First Connector 220 Terminal fittings 221 Terminal connection part 230 1st Housing (Housing) 230a end face 232 Fixed Hood Wall 240 Movable Hood Wall 240A First Movable Hood Wall (One of the Movable Hood Walls) 240B Second movable hood wall (the other movable hood wall) 241 Opposite wall 260 mating protrusion 310 First mating connector 320 Mating terminal fitting 321 Counterparty terminal connection part 330 First Opposite Housing (Opposite Housing) 330a end face 360 Counterpart fitting recess 410 Second Connector 430 Second Housing (Housing) 430a end face 432 Fixed Hood Wall 460 mating recess 510 Second mating connector 530 Second counterpart housing (counterpart housing) 530a end face 560 Mating convex part Pt terminal pitch

Claims

1. a terminal fitting having a terminal connection portion to be fitted with a mating terminal connection portion of a mating terminal fitting of the mating connector when the mating connector is inserted and fitted; a housing into which the terminal fittings are housed with the terminal connection portions protruding, and into which a mating housing of the mating connector is inserted and fitted; a pair of movable hood walls arranged opposite to each other at a distance in a first orthogonal direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction between the housing and the mating housing, the movable hood walls being movable in the insertion / removal direction relative to the housing between a protection position that protects the terminal connection portions arranged between the movable hood walls and a retracted position that does not face the terminal connection portions in the first orthogonal direction; Equipped with the housing has a pair of fixed hood walls arranged opposite to each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction, the pair of fixed hood walls surrounding and protecting the terminal connection portion arranged between them from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls in the protective position, and guide portions for each of the pair of movable hood walls that guide and hold the movable hood wall between the protective position and the retracted position, the pair of movable hood walls are formed to be pushed by the mating housing from the protecting position to the retracted position as the mating housing is inserted and fitted into the housing, the pair of movable hood walls each have a blocking wall connected to an end portion of the movable hood wall on the protection position side, the blocking wall blocking an opening formed by the movable hood wall and the pair of fixed hood walls in the protection position, The connector is characterized in that the blocking wall has a terminal insertion hole through which the terminal connection portion is inserted when the blocking wall is in the retracted position.

2. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing has a first connected portion to which a housing of the same shape as the housing is connected that is adjacent to the housing on one side in the first orthogonal direction, and a first connecting portion to which a housing of the same shape as the housing is connected that is adjacent to the housing on the other side in the first orthogonal direction.

3. A first holding mechanism that holds the movable hood wall on the housing in the protective position and releases the holding state on the housing by receiving a pushing force from the opposing housing toward the retracted position; a second holding mechanism that holds the movable hood wall on the housing at the retracted position; 3. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. A connector as described in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the housing has a connector guide portion provided on one of the fixed hood walls for guiding the mating housing to a position where mating connection with the mating housing is completed.

5. A connector and a mating connector that are mutually insertable and detachable, The connector comprises terminal fittings having terminal connection portions, a housing in which the terminal fittings are housed with the terminal connection portions protruding, and a pair of movable hood walls arranged opposite to each other at a distance in a first orthogonal direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction between the connector and the mating connector, and movable in the insertion / removal direction relative to the housing between a protection position that protects the terminal connection portions arranged between the two hood walls and a retracted position that does not face the terminal connection portions in the first orthogonal direction, The mating connector comprises a mating terminal fitting having a mating terminal connection portion that is inserted and fitted into the connector and then fitted and connected to the terminal connection portion, and a mating housing that accommodates the mating terminal fitting and is inserted and fitted into the housing, the housing has a pair of fixed hood walls arranged opposite to each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction, the pair of fixed hood walls surrounding and protecting the terminal connection portion arranged between them from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls in the protective position, and guide portions for each of the pair of movable hood walls that guide and hold the movable hood wall between the protective position and the retracted position, the pair of movable hood walls are formed to be pushed by the mating housing from the protecting position to the retracted position as the mating housing is inserted and fitted into the housing, the pair of movable hood walls each have a blocking wall connected to an end portion of the movable hood wall on the protection position side, the blocking wall blocking an opening formed by the movable hood wall and the pair of fixed hood walls in the protection position, The blocking wall has a terminal insertion hole through which the terminal connecting portion is inserted when the blocking wall is in the retracted position.

6. A plurality of combinations of the connector and the mating connector are provided, The housing has a first connected portion to which a housing having the same shape as the housing is connected and which is adjacent to the housing on one side in the first orthogonal direction, and a first connecting portion to which a housing having the same shape as the housing is connected and which is adjacent to the housing on the other side in the first orthogonal direction, 6. The mating connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the mating housing has a second connected portion to which a mating housing of the same shape as the mating housing is connected and which is adjacent to the mating housing on one side in the first orthogonal direction, and a second connecting portion to which a mating housing of the same shape as the mating housing is connected and which is adjacent to the mating housing on the other side in the first orthogonal direction.

7. A connector including at least one connector that can be inserted into or removed from another connector and the same number of mating connectors as the connector; The connector comprises terminal fittings having terminal connection portions, a housing in which the terminal fittings are housed with the terminal connection portions protruding, and a pair of movable hood walls arranged opposite to each other at a distance in a first orthogonal direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction between the connector and the mating connector, and movable in the insertion / removal direction relative to the housing between a protection position that protects the terminal connection portions arranged between the two hood walls and a retracted position that does not face the terminal connection portions in the first orthogonal direction, The mating connector comprises a mating terminal fitting having a mating terminal connection portion that is inserted and fitted into the connector and then fitted and connected to the terminal connection portion, and a mating housing that accommodates the mating terminal fitting and is inserted and fitted into the housing, the housing has a pair of fixed hood walls disposed opposite to each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction, the pair of fixed hood walls surrounding and protecting the terminal connection portion disposed between them from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls in the protective position, a guide portion for each of the pair of movable hood walls that guides and holds the movable hood wall between the protective position and the retracted position, a first connected portion to which the housing of the adjacent connector disposed adjacently on one side in the first orthogonal direction is connected, and a first connecting portion that connects to the housing of the adjacent connector disposed adjacently on the other side in the first orthogonal direction, When a mating connection target for one of the connectors is one of the mating connectors, a reference mating connector used as the mating connector has the mating housing accommodated between the pair of movable hood walls in the protective position when the mating connection with the housing is completed, When the mating connection targets for the two connectors in a connected state are two mating connectors in a connected state, a first mating connector and a second mating connector are used as the mating connectors, whose mating housings can be connected to each other in the first orthogonal direction, and in this case, the mating housings of the first mating connector and the second mating connector are inserted and fitted in a connected state to the respective housings in the connected state of the respective connectors, and are formed so that while the two movable hood walls located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are maintained in the protective position, all of the remaining movable hood walls other than these two movable hood walls are pushed from the protective position to the retracted position, When the mating connection targets for three or more of the connectors in a connected state are the same number of mating connectors in a connected state, in addition to the first mating connector and the second mating connector, at least one third mating connector is used as the mating connector, which is arranged side by side between the first mating connector and the second mating connector in the first orthogonal direction and connected to them, and in this case, the mating housings of the first mating connector, the second mating connector and the third mating connector are inserted and fitted in a connected state to the respective housings of the respective connectors in a connected state, and are formed so that while the two movable hood walls located outermost in the first orthogonal direction are maintained in the protective position, all of the remaining movable hood walls other than these two movable hood walls are pushed from the protective position to the retracted position, the mating housing of the first mating connector has a second coupled portion to which the mating housing of the adjacent second mating connector or the mating housing of the adjacent third mating connector, which are arranged adjacently on one side in the first orthogonal direction, is coupled; the mating housing of the second mating connector has a second connecting portion that is connected to the second connected portion of the adjacent first mating connector or the mating housing of the adjacent third mating connector that is arranged adjacent to the other side of the first orthogonal direction, A mating connector characterized in that the mating housing of the third mating connector has a second connected portion to which the second connecting portion of the adjacent second mating connector or the mating housing of the adjacent third mating connector arranged adjacently on one side of the first orthogonal direction is connected, and has the second connecting portion that is connected to the second connected portion of the adjacent first mating connector or the second connected portion of the adjacent third mating connector arranged adjacently on the other side of the first orthogonal direction.

8. A pair of a first connector and a first mating connector that can be inserted into or removed from each other along an insertion / removal direction; a pair of a second connector and a second mating connector that are insertable into and removable from each other along the insertion and removal direction; Equipped with The first connector and the second connector each include terminal fittings having a plurality of terminal connection portions arranged at the same inter-terminal pitch, a housing in which the terminal fittings are housed with the plurality of terminal connection portions protruding and the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminal connection portions aligned in a first orthogonal direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction, and a pair of movable hood walls arranged opposite each other at a distance from each other in the first orthogonal direction and movable in the insertion / removal direction relative to the housing between a protection position that protects the plurality of terminal connection portions arranged between the opposing wall surfaces and a retracted position that does not face the plurality of terminal connection portions in the first orthogonal direction, the housing of the first connector comprises a pair of fixed hood walls disposed opposite to each other at a distance in a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction and the first orthogonal direction, and which surround and protect the plurality of terminal connection portions disposed therebetween from all sides in cooperation with the pair of movable hood walls held by the housing in the protective position; the housing accommodates the terminal fittings offset from the opposing wall surface of one of the movable hood walls held by the housing toward the other movable hood wall by two pitches in the inter-terminal pitch, and offset from an end face of the end on the other movable hood wall side toward the one movable hood wall by 1.5 pitches in the inter-terminal pitch; and the end on the other movable hood wall side is provided with a fitting protrusion that protrudes beyond the end face of the end; the housing of the second connector holds the pair of movable hood walls with a distance between their opposing wall surfaces that is the same as that of the first housing, and holds one of the movable hood walls and the other movable hood wall in an arrangement opposite to that of the first housing in the first orthogonal direction, and includes a pair of fixed hood walls that are arranged opposite to each other at a distance in the second orthogonal direction and that, together with the pair of movable hood walls that they hold in the protective position, surround and protect the multiple terminal connection parts arranged therebetween from all sides, and the second housing is formed as a second housing in which the terminal fittings are accommodated such that the opposing wall surface of one of the movable hood walls that it holds is offset by two pitches toward the other movable hood wall in terms of the inter-terminal pitch, and the end face of the end on the other movable hood wall side is offset by two pitches toward the one movable hood wall in terms of the inter-terminal pitch, and a fitting recess is provided at the end on the other movable hood wall side that is recessed further than the end face of the end and that connects the first housing by fitting with the fitting protrusion, the first mating connector and the second mating connector each include a mating terminal fitting for each of the terminal connection portions having a mating terminal connection portion to be fitted and connected to the terminal connection portion, and a mating housing that accommodates the plurality of mating terminal fittings and has a maximum value in the first orthogonal direction that is the same as the distance between the opposing wall surfaces of the pair of movable hood walls, the mating housing of the first mating connector is formed as a first mating housing having a mating recess recessed from an end face of an end portion that is disposed opposite one of the movable hood walls of the first connector in a mated and connected state with the first connector, The mating connector is characterized in that the mating housing of the second mating connector is formed as a second mating housing having a mating mating convex portion at an end that is positioned opposite one of the movable hood walls of the second connector when mated and connected to the second connector, with the end face of the end at its maximum protruding position and connecting to the mating mating recess to connect the first mating housing.

Images