connector

Abstract

To provide a connector configured to prevent functionality of a lock mechanism from being impaired even when an unintended excessive external force is applied to the lock mechanism.SOLUTION: A housing 1 includes a housing body 10 and a lock mechanism 20. The lock mechanism 20 includes: a lock arm 21 extending toward one side of an assembling direction; and a release arm 24 connected to a tip of the lock arm 21 and extending toward the other side of the assembling direction. The release arm 24 includes a rocking fulcrum section 24a, an operation section 25, and a plurality of locking sections 26, 28. The operation section 25 moving close to the housing body 10 rocks the release arm 24 around the rocking fulcrum section 24a in contact with the housing body 10, and the movement of the operation section 25 apart from the housing body 10 is regulated by engagement between the locking sections 26, 28 and a plurality of separation prevention sections 18, 27 of the lock arm 21 or the housing body 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Connectors equipped with a housing having a locking mechanism have been proposed. The locking mechanism of the housing has a cantilever-shaped locking arm and a release arm connected to the locking arm. The locking arm and release arm are connected by a connecting portion, and an operating portion is provided at the free end of the release arm. When the connector is mated with a mating connector, the locking arm engages with a protrusion on the mating housing that constitutes the mating connector, thereby maintaining the assembled state of the connector and the mating connector. In other words, the mated state of the housing and the mating housing is maintained. Furthermore, by operating the operating portion of the release arm in a mating release direction, the assembled state of the housing and the mating housing is released, and the mated state of the housing and the mating housing is released (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-195126 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional connector described above, the protective wall of the housing is provided with a curl-prevention protrusion, and the release arm is provided with a locking protrusion. When the connector is handled, for example during transportation, an electric wire pulled out from the connector may get caught on the release arm's operating portion, or a surrounding component may come into contact with the release arm's operating portion, causing an external force to be applied to the release arm's operating portion, causing the release arm's operating portion to lift in the opposite direction to the mating release direction (the direction toward the housing body), causing the release arm to curl up. Even in such cases, the curl-prevention protrusion and the locking protrusion engage (interfere) with each other, preventing the release arm from curling up.

[0005] However, if an unintended excessive external force is applied to the operating portion of the release arm, the anti-turning protrusion and the locking protrusion may not be able to maintain their engagement (interference) state due to reasons such as deformation of at least one of the anti-turning protrusion and the locking protrusion. If the engagement (interference) state between the anti-turning protrusion and the locking protrusion cannot be maintained, stress may concentrate at the connection between the lock arm and the release arm, causing cracks or plastic deformation at the connection, which may impair the original function of the locking mechanism. For example, there is a concern that the locking mechanism may not be able to fully perform its function of maintaining the assembled state between the housing and the mating connector when the connector and the mating connector are mated, or its function of releasing the assembled state.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can prevent the function of the locking mechanism from being impaired even if an unintended excessive external force is applied to the locking mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector according to the present invention has the following features.

[0008] A connector including a housing having a housing main body that is to be assembled to a mating housing along a predetermined assembly direction, and a locking mechanism that can switch between maintaining and releasing the assembled state with the mating housing, The locking mechanism is a cantilevered lock arm extending from the housing body toward one side in the assembly direction, and a release arm connected to a tip end of the lock arm and extending along the lock arm toward the other side in the assembly direction, The release arm a lock arm having a pivot point portion facing the housing body, an operating portion located on the other side of the pivot point portion in the assembly direction, and a plurality of engaging portions located at different positions in the assembly direction, and configured so that movement of the operating portion in a direction approaching the housing body causes the release arm to pivot around the pivot point portion abutting against the housing body, and movement of the operating portion in a direction away from the housing body is restricted by interference between the plurality of engaging portions and the lock arm or a plurality of turn-up prevention portions of the housing body. It is a connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the connector of the present invention, when the operating portion of a release arm constituting the locking mechanism moves toward the housing body, the release arm swings around the swing fulcrum of the release arm. This swing displaces the locking arm connected to the release arm away from the housing body, releasing the assembled state (i.e., switching between maintaining and releasing the assembled state). In contrast, if an unintended, excessive external force is applied to the operating portion, and the operating portion attempts to move away from the housing body, the multiple engaging portions and the multiple turn-up prevention portions engage (interfere) with each other. This prevents the release arm from moving in that direction (i.e., turning up), and by distributing the external force applied to the operating portion to multiple locations, it is possible to prevent the engagement (interference) between the engaging portions and the turn-up prevention protrusions from being lost even if an excessive external force is applied. Therefore, with this connector, the function of the locking mechanism is prevented from being impaired even if an unintended, excessive external force is applied to the locking mechanism.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector using a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a top view of the connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a view showing the periphery of the lock mechanism in the cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view showing the periphery of the lock mechanism in a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a part of the housing in cross section to explain the positional relationship between the plurality of engagement portions and the plurality of turn-up prevention portions. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing the movement of the locking mechanism when a downward external force is applied to the operating portion of the release arm. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing the movement of the locking mechanism when a downward external force is applied to the operating portion of the release arm. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing the movement of the locking mechanism when an upward external force is applied to the operating portion of the release arm. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing the movement of the locking mechanism when an upward external force is applied to the operating portion of the release arm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <Embodiment> A connector 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. When the connector 2 is mated with a mating connector (not shown), the housing 1 is assembled to the mating housing (not shown). For ease of explanation, "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" are defined below as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction between the connector 2 and the mating connector (i.e., the assembly direction between the housing 1 and the mating housing). For each of the connector 2 and the mating connector, the mating direction in the front-rear direction is the front side, and the mating direction in the front-rear direction is the rear side.

[0013] 1 and 2, the connector 2 includes a housing 1, a packing 30 attached to the housing 1, and a front holder 40 attached to the housing 1. The configuration of the connector 2 will be described below.

[0014] The housing 1 is a resin molded product, and as shown in FIG. 2 etc., includes a housing main body 10 and a locking mechanism 20, which are integral with each other. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing main body 10 has a hood portion 11 having a generally rectangular cylindrical shape and extending in the front-to-rear direction. The top of the hood portion 11 is open in the front-to-rear direction. A terminal accommodating portion 12 extending in the front-to-rear direction is provided integrally with the hood portion 11 inside the hood portion 11. An annular recess 13 that opens forward and extends in the front-to-rear direction is defined between the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion 12. The housing 1 and the mating housing are assembled by inserting a cylindrical assembly portion (not shown) of the mating housing into the annular recess 13.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4 , a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 14 are provided inside the terminal accommodating portion 12, penetrating in the front-rear direction and aligned in the left-right and front-rear directions. A terminal (female terminal, not shown) connected to the end of the electric wire W is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 14 from the rear and accommodated therein. A cantilevered lance 15 extending obliquely forward and downward toward the interior of the terminal accommodating chamber 14 is integrally provided at a predetermined position on the upper side of the inner wall of each terminal accommodating chamber 14. When the terminal is inserted, the lance 15 temporarily elastically deforms upward, and the terminal is accommodated in the correct position in the terminal accommodating chamber 14. When the terminal is accommodated in the correct position, the lance 15 engages with a portion of the terminal, thereby preventing the terminal from slipping out rearward from the terminal accommodating chamber 14.

[0016] An annular rubber packing 30 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion 12 at a predetermined position in the front-to-rear direction so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface (see Figure 4, etc.). When the housing 1 is assembled with the mating housing, the packing 30 comes into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical assembly portion of the mating housing inserted into the annular recess 13, thereby providing a waterproof function that prevents water from entering or leaving the assembly location.

[0017] A resin front holder 40 is attached to the front end of the terminal accommodating portion 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). When the front holder 40 is attached to the front end of the terminal accommodating portion 12 in the correct position with the terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 14, as shown in FIG. 4, the detection plate 41 of the front holder 40 enters the space adjacent to the upper side of the lance 15 in the terminal accommodating chamber 14. As a result, unintended upward deformation of the lance 15 is prevented. This allows the front holder 40 to maintain the engagement between the lance 15 and a portion of the terminal, thereby firmly preventing the terminal from slipping out rearward from the terminal accommodating chamber 14 (a so-called double locking function). On the other hand, when an attempt is made to attach the front holder 40 to the front end of the terminal accommodating section 12 when the terminal is accommodated in a partially inserted position behind the normal position, the tip of the lance 15, which is elastically deformed upward due to pressure from the terminal, interferes with the detection plate 41, making it impossible to attach the front holder 40 to the normal position at the front end of the terminal accommodating section 12. This allows the front holder 40 to function as a detector for detecting partially inserted terminals.

[0018] 2 and 3, a pair of left and right protective walls 16 are integrally provided on a pair of left and right opening edges extending in the front-rear direction of the upper opening of the hood portion 11, protruding upward and extending in the front-rear direction. The pair of protective walls 16 function to protect the locking mechanism 20 disposed between them. The front ends of the pair of protective walls 16 are connected in the left-right direction by a connecting portion 17 extending in the left-right direction.

[0019] A pair of left and right first curling prevention portions 18 are provided on the inner left-right surfaces of the rear ends of the pair of protective walls 16 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 7). In this example, each first curling prevention portion 18 is configured as a protrusion that protrudes inward in the left-right direction. The pair of first curling prevention portions 18 are arranged so as to be engageable in the up-down direction with a pair of first engagement portions 26 (described later) (see FIG. 6). The effect of providing the first curling prevention portions 18 and the first engagement portions 26 in this manner will be described later.

[0020] A fixing portion 19 is integrally provided at the lower part of the hood portion 11 (see Figures 2 and 4, etc.). A recess 19a that opens forward and extends in the front-to-rear direction is defined between the fixing portion 19 and the lower part of the hood portion 11 (see Figure 4). When the connector 2 is mounted on a vehicle, a stay (not shown) on the vehicle side is inserted into the recess 19a, thereby fixing the connector 2 to the vehicle.

[0021] The locking mechanism 20 is integrally provided on the upper surface 12a of the terminal accommodating portion 12 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), and is disposed between the pair of protective walls 16. The locking mechanism 20 has the function of maintaining the assembled state between the housing 1 and the mating housing, and the function of releasing this assembled state.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the locking mechanism 20 has a pair of left and right locking arms 21. Each locking arm 21 has a cantilever shape extending forward from the upper surface 12a of the terminal accommodating portion 12 and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction (see FIG. 5). The front ends (front ends) of the pair of locking arms 21 are connected to each other in the horizontal direction by a locking portion 22 (see FIG. 3). The locking portion 22 engages with a locking protrusion (not shown) on the mating housing to maintain the assembled state of the housing 1 and the mating housing. A pair of left and right second curling prevention portions 27 are provided on the outer horizontal surfaces of the pair of locking arms 21 at approximately the center in the front-rear direction (see FIGS. 5 and 7). In this example, each second curling prevention portion 27 is formed as a protrusion protruding outward in the horizontal direction. The pair of second curling prevention portions 27 are arranged to be able to engage with a pair of second engagement portions 28 (described later) in the vertical direction (see FIG. 5). The effect of providing the second curling prevention portion 27 and the second engagement portion 28 will be described later.

[0023] A pair of left and right release arms 24 are integrally provided at the tip ends of the pair of lock arms 21 via a pair of left and right connecting portions 23 (see FIG. 3) that protrude outward in the left-right direction from the tip ends. Each release arm 24 has a cantilever shape that extends rearward from the connecting portion 23 (see FIG. 6). The pair of release arms 24 extend along the pair of lock arms 21 on the left-right outer sides of the pair of lock arms 21 (see FIG. 3). The tip ends (rear ends) of the pair of release arms 24 are connected to each other in the left-right direction by an operating portion 25 that extends in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 2 and 3, etc.).

[0024] Each release arm 24 is provided with a downwardly protruding swing fulcrum 24a at a midpoint in the front-rear direction forward of the operating portion 25 (see FIG. 6). In this example, the front-rear position of the swing fulcrum 24a substantially coincides with the front-rear position of the base end 21a of the lock arm 21 (see FIG. 5) (see FIG. 6). A pair of left and right first engagement portions 26 are provided on the outer left-right surfaces of the pair of release arms 24 at positions rearward of the swing fulcrum 24a, corresponding to the pair of first turn-up prevention portions 18 of the housing main body 10 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). In this example, each first engagement portion 26 is configured as a protrusion that protrudes outward in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the lock mechanism 20 is in a normal state, the pair of first engagement portions 26 are located below the pair of first turn-up prevention portions 18 and are arranged vertically opposite the pair of first turn-up prevention portions 18 with a small gap therebetween.

[0025] A pair of left and right second engagement portions 28 are provided at the lower end portions of the inner surfaces in the left-right direction of the pair of release arms 24, at positions forward of the swing fulcrum portion 24a, corresponding to the second turn-over prevention portions 27 of the pair of lock arms 21 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). In this example, each second engagement portion 28 is configured as a protrusion that protrudes inward in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, in the normal state of the lock mechanism 20, the pair of second engagement portions 28 are located below the pair of second turn-over prevention portions 27, and are arranged opposite the pair of second turn-over prevention portions 27 in the up-down direction with a small gap between them. The configuration of the connector 2 has been described above.

[0026] Next, the mating operation of the connector 2 and the mating connector will be described. To mate the connector 2, to which the packing 30 and front holder 40 are attached, with the mating connector, first, the housing 1 and the mating housing are positioned so that they face each other in the front-to-rear direction. Next, the housing 1 and the mating housing are brought close to each other so that the cylindrical assembly portion of the mating housing is inserted into the annular recess 13 of the housing 1 and the locking protrusion of the mating housing passes under the locking portion 22 of the housing 1. During this process, the locking portion 22, which has climbed onto the locking protrusion, temporarily moves upward while elastically deforming upward the pair of locking arms 21. Once the locking portion 22 climbs over the locking protrusion, the pair of locking arms 21 elastically return downward, returning the locking portion 22 to its original position. This completes the mating of the connector 2 and the mating connector. In this mating-completed state, the locking protrusion and the locking portion 22 engage with each other in the front-to-rear direction, making the connector 2 and the mating connector inseparable, and the mating-completed state is maintained. That is, the assembled state between the housing 1 and the mating housing is maintained.

[0027] Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the operation of separating the connector 2 from the mating connector in a fully mated state will be described. To separate the connector 2 from the mating connector, the operating portion 25 of the locking mechanism 20 of the housing 1 is moved downward (toward the upper surface 12a of the terminal accommodating portion 12) (i.e., pressed downward). This causes the swing fulcrum portions 24a of the pair of release arms 24 to abut against the upper surface 12a of the terminal accommodating portion 12, and the pair of release arms 24 swing around the swing fulcrum portions 24a in a direction in which their front ends move upward (see also the arrows in the figures). In conjunction with this swing of the release arms 24, the pair of locking arms 21 elastically deform upward, causing the locking portion 22 to move upward. This releases the engagement between the locking protrusions and the locking portion 22 in the front-rear direction, allowing the connector 2 and the mating connector to be separated. In other words, the assembled state of the housing 1 and the mating housing is released.

[0028] At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the second turn-up prevention portion 27 is provided on the lock arm 21, and the second engagement portion 28 is provided on the release arm 24. As the lock arm 21 elastically deforms in response to the swinging of the release arm 24, both the second turn-up prevention portion 27 and the second engagement portion 28 move upward. That is, the second turn-up prevention portion 27 and the second engagement portion 28 do not engage (interfere) with each other when the assembled state is released. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the first turn-up prevention portion 18 is fixed to the protective wall 16 of the housing 1 and does not move, and the first engagement portion 26 moves downward away from the first turn-up prevention portion 18. That is, the first turn-up prevention portion 18 and the first engagement portion 26 do not engage (interfere) with each other when the assembled state is released.

[0029] Next, the effect of providing the first engagement portion 26, the first curl-up prevention portion 18, the second engagement portion 28, and the second curl-up prevention portion 27 in the locking mechanism 20 will be described. When an unintended excessive external force is applied to the operating portion 25 of the release arm 24 in the locking mechanism 20 during transport of the connector 2 or installation of the electric wires W, causing the operating portion 25 to move in a direction away from the upper surface 12a of the terminal accommodating portion 12 (upward, i.e., in the direction opposite to the normal operating direction), as shown in FIG. 10 , the second engagement portion 28 of the release arm 24 moves upward and engages with (interferes with) the second curl-up prevention portion 27. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11 , the first engagement portion 26 moves upward and engages with (interferes with) the first curl-up prevention portion 18. As a result, further upward deformation (i.e., curl-up) of the release arm 24 is restricted.

[0030] In this way, when an unintended excessive external force is applied to the operating portion 25 and the operating portion 25 attempts to move in a direction (upward) away from the upper surface 12a of the terminal accommodating portion 12, the first engagement portion 26 of the release arm 24 engages with the first anti-turning portion 18 of the housing main body 10, and the second engagement portion 28 of the release arm 24 engages with the second anti-turning portion 27 of the locking arm 21, thereby restricting the operating portion 25 of the release arm 24 from moving in such a direction (upward).

[0031] As described above, in the connector 2 according to the present embodiment, the lock arm 21 constituting the lock mechanism 20 of the housing 1 has a plurality of (two) engaging portions, each consisting of a first engaging portion 26 and a second engaging portion 28, and the release arm 24 has a plurality of (two) turn-over prevention portions, each consisting of a first turn-over prevention portion 18 and a second turn-over prevention portion 27. That is, the number of engaging portions and turn-over prevention portions is increased compared to conventional connectors. Therefore, even if an unintended excessive external force is applied to the operating portion 25 of the release arm 24, the plurality of engaging portions (the first engaging portion 26 and the second engaging portion 28) engage (interfere) with the plurality of turn-over prevention portions (the first turn-over prevention portion 18 and the second turn-over prevention portion 27), dispersing the external force to multiple locations. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first engaging portion 26 and the second engaging portion 28 from being unable to maintain the engagement (interference) state with the first turn-over prevention portion 18 and the second turn-over prevention portion 27. Therefore, in the connector 2 of this embodiment, the function of the locking mechanism 20 can be maintained even if an excessively large external force is applied to the locking mechanism 20 unintentionally.

[0032] <Other aspects> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0033] For example, in the above embodiment, the first curling prevention portion 18 that engages with the first engagement portion 26 is provided on the housing main body 10, and the second curling prevention portion 27 that engages with the second engagement portion 28 is provided on the lock arm 21. Alternatively, the first curling prevention portion 18 that engages with the first engagement portion 26 may be provided on the housing main body 10, and the second curling prevention portion 27 that engages with the second engagement portion 28 may also be provided on the housing main body 10. In this case, a pair of left and right second curling prevention portions 27 that protrude inward in the left and right direction are provided on the inner left and right surfaces of the pair of protective walls 16 forward of the first curling prevention portions 18, and a pair of left and right second engagement portions 28 that correspond to the pair of second curling prevention portions 27 are provided on the outer left and right surfaces of the pair of release arms 24.

[0034] Here, the features of the embodiment of the connector 2 according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4].

[0035] [1] A connector (2) comprising a housing (1) having a housing main body (10) to be assembled to a mating housing in a predetermined assembly direction, and a locking mechanism (20) capable of switching between maintaining and releasing the assembled state with the mating housing, The locking mechanism (20) a cantilevered lock arm (21) extending from the housing body (10) toward one side in the assembly direction, and a release arm (24) connected to a tip end of the lock arm (21) and extending along the lock arm (21) toward the other side in the assembly direction, The release arm (24) The lock arm (21) includes a swing fulcrum (24a) facing the housing body (10), an operating portion (25) located on the other side of the swing fulcrum (24a) in the assembly direction, and a plurality of engagement portions (26, 28) located at different positions in the assembly direction, and is configured such that movement of the operating portion (25) toward the housing body (10) swings the release arm (24) around the swing fulcrum (24a) abutting against the housing body (10), and movement of the operating portion (25) away from the housing body (10) is restricted by interference between the plurality of engagement portions (26, 28) and a plurality of turn-up prevention portions (18, 27) of the lock arm (21) or the housing body (10). Housing (1).

[0036] According to the connector having the configuration [1] above, when the operating portion of the release arm constituting the locking mechanism moves toward the housing body, the release arm swings around the swing fulcrum of the release arm. This swing displaces the locking arm connected to the release arm away from the housing body, releasing the assembled state (i.e., switching between maintaining and releasing the assembled state). In contrast, if an unintended, excessive external force is applied to the operating portion, and the operating portion attempts to move away from the housing body, the multiple engaging portions and the multiple turn-up prevention portions engage (interfere) with each other. This prevents the release arm from moving in that direction (i.e., turning up), and by distributing the external force applied to the operating portion to multiple locations, it is possible to prevent the engagement (interference) between the engaging portions and the turn-up prevention protrusions from being lost even if an excessive external force is applied. Therefore, with this connector, the function of the locking mechanism is prevented from being impaired even if an unintended, excessive external force is applied to the locking mechanism.

[0037] [2] In the connector (2) described in [1] above, The plurality of engaging portions include: a first engagement portion (26) disposed on the other side of the swing fulcrum portion (24a) in the assembly direction; a second engagement portion (28) disposed on one side of the swing fulcrum portion (24a) in the assembly direction, Connector(2).

[0038] According to the connector having the configuration [2] above, when an external force acting in a direction away from the housing body acts on the operating portion of the release arm, the first engagement portion engages with the turn-up prevention portion on the other side of the swing fulcrum in the assembly direction (i.e., the side closer to the operating portion of the release arm), thereby preventing the release arm from moving in that direction. Furthermore, the second engagement portion engages with the turn-up prevention portion on one side of the swing fulcrum in the assembly direction (i.e., the side closer to the tip of the release arm), thereby preventing the release arm from moving in that direction. This makes it possible to resist external forces while appropriately dispersing unintended excessive external forces throughout the entire locking mechanism.

[0039] [3] In the connector (2) described in [2] above, The plurality of curling prevention portions include: The housing body (10) has a first turn-up prevention portion (18) that engages with the first engagement portion (26), The lock arm (21) has a second turn-up prevention portion (27) that engages with the second engagement portion (28). Connector(2).

[0040] [4] In the connector (2) described in [2] above, The plurality of curling prevention portions include: The housing body (10) has a first turn-up prevention portion (18) that engages with the first engagement portion (26), The housing body (10) has a second curl-up prevention portion that engages with the second engagement portion (28). Connector(2).

[0041] According to the housing having the configurations [3] and [4] above, it is possible to specifically suppress unintentional movement of the release arm by the above-mentioned plurality of engaging portions and plurality of turn-up prevention portions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Housing 2 connectors 10 Housing body 18 First curl prevention part (curl prevention part) 20 Locking mechanism 21 Lock Arm 24 Release arm 24a Swing fulcrum 25 Control section 26 First engagement portion (engagement portion) 27 Second curl prevention part (curl prevention part) 28 Second engagement portion (engagement portion)

Claims

1. A connector including a housing having a housing main body that is to be assembled to a mating housing along a predetermined assembly direction, and a locking mechanism that can switch between maintaining and releasing the assembled state with the mating housing, The locking mechanism is a cantilevered lock arm extending from the housing body toward one side in the assembly direction, and a release arm connected to a tip end of the lock arm and extending along the lock arm toward the other side in the assembly direction, The release arm a lock arm having a pivot point portion facing the housing body, an operating portion located on the other side of the pivot point portion in the assembly direction, and a plurality of engaging portions located at different positions in the assembly direction, and configured so that movement of the operating portion in a direction approaching the housing body causes the release arm to pivot around the pivot point portion abutting against the housing body, and movement of the operating portion in a direction away from the housing body is restricted by interference between the plurality of engaging portions and the lock arm or a plurality of turn-up prevention portions of the housing body. connector.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, The plurality of engaging portions include: a first engaging portion disposed on the other side of the swing fulcrum portion in the assembly direction; a second engaging portion disposed on one side of the swing fulcrum portion in the assembly direction, connector.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 2, The plurality of curling prevention portions include: The housing main body has a first curl-up prevention portion that engages with the first engagement portion, The lock arm has a second curl-up prevention portion that engages with the second engagement portion. connector.

4. 3. The connector according to claim 2, The plurality of curling prevention portions include: The housing main body has a first curl-up prevention portion that engages with the first engagement portion, The housing main body has a second curl-up prevention portion that engages with the second engagement portion. connector.

Images