Connector unit

Abstract

To provide a connector unit capable of more reliably detecting a fitting condition between a first connector and a second connector.SOLUTION: A connector unit 1 comprises: a first connector 2 and a second connector 11 which can be fitted to each other; and a fitting detection member 5. The first connector 2 has a lock arm 4 which can be engaged with the second connector 11. The lock arm 4 has a double-supported beam type arm 42. The fitting detection member 5 has a detection part 6 which is provided slidably in a perpendicular direction Y perpendicular to a fitting direction X and extends in the perpendicular direction. When the double-supported beam type arm is in the natural state, the detection part 6 is allowed to slide between a connector body 31 and the double-supported beam type arm 42. When the double-supported beam type arm 42 is bent, the detection part 6 comes into contact with the double-supported beam type arm 42 so that the fitting detection member 5 is restricted from sliding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector unit.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a connector unit has been proposed that includes a first connector housing and a second connector housing that can be fitted to each other, and a fitting detection member held by the first connector housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The first connector housing includes a cubic housing body having a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers, a cantilevered lock arm provided on the upper surface of the housing body and elastically deformable in the vertical direction, and a pair of ribs provided upright from the housing body and on both sides in the width direction of the lock arm. The fitting detection member is at the free end of the lock arm and is held slidably in the width direction.

[0004] In such a conventional connector unit, when fitting the first connector housing and the second connector housing, the base end side of the lock arm of the first connector housing is brought close to and inserted into the hood portion of the second connector housing. As the insertion progresses, the lock arm elastically deforms once, and as the insertion further progresses, the lock arm returns to its original shape and engages with the second connector housing to reach a fully fitted state.

[0005] The fitting detection member is allowed to slide so as to pass above each rib when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are in a fully fitted state, and when the lock arm is in a state of being elastically deformed, the fitting detection member abuts against each rib and the slide is restricted, so that it is possible to detect that the first connector housing and the second connector housing are in an intermediate fitted state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-115615 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, in conventional connector units, there is a risk that the ribs erected on the first connector housing may break due to external force applied when handling the first connector housing, for example, during transportation. If the ribs break, there is a concern that it will become impossible to detect the partially mated state (mated state) of the first and second connector housings.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a connector unit that can more reliably detect the mating state of the first connector and the second connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objective, the invention described in claim 1 is a connector unit comprising a first connector and a second connector that can be mated with each other, and a mating detection member supported by the first connector, wherein the first connector comprises a connector body and a lock arm provided on the connector body and capable of engaging with the second connector, the lock arm has a double-supported beam type arm that extends in the mating direction in which the first connector and the second connector are mated, and both ends in the mating direction are fixed to the connector body, the mating detection member is provided so as to be slidable in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the mating direction, and has a detection portion extending in the orthogonal direction, the detection portion is allowed to slide between the connector body and the double-supported beam type arm when the double-supported beam type arm is in its natural state, and when the double-supported beam type arm is bent, the sliding of the mating detection member is restricted by the detection portion contacting the double-supported beam type arm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the invention described in claim 1, the mating state of the first connector and the second connector can be detected more reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a connector unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the first connector that constitutes the connector unit. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the first connector from a different angle than that shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a rear view of the second connector that constitutes the aforementioned connector unit. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing a mating detection member to be assembled to the first connector. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the aforementioned fitting detection member from a different angle than that shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating the assembly procedure of the connector unit, and is a perspective view showing the mating detection member in a temporary locking position. [Figure 8] The diagram shows the subsequent process after Figure 7, where (A) is a perspective view showing the state in which the fitting detection member is in the locking position, and (B) is a view of (A) from the rear. [Figure 9] These figures illustrate the operation and effects of this embodiment. (A) is a perspective view showing an intermediate fitting state in which the lock arm remains elastically deformed and has not yet returned to its original state, and (B) is a view of (A) from the rear. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector unit shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a connector unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a female connector 2 (first connector) constituting the connector unit 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the female connector 2 from a different angle than that shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view of the male connector 11 (second connector) constituting the connector unit 1 from the rear X2. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a mating detection member 5 assembled to the female connector 2. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the mating detection member 5 from a different angle than that shown in Figure 5.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the connector unit 1 of this embodiment comprises a female connector 2 as the first connector in the claim (shown in Figures 1 and 2), a male connector 11 as the second connector in the claim (shown in Figures 1 and 4), and a mating detection member 5 (shown in Figure 1) supported by the female connector 2 for detecting the mating state of the female connector 2 and the male connector 11.

[0014] In this embodiment, the front-to-back direction X, which is the mating direction of the female connector 2 and the male connector 11, is defined as follows: the direction toward the male connector 11 when viewed from the female connector 2 is referred to as "front (X1 direction)", the opposite direction is referred to as "rear (X2 direction)", and the two directions approximately perpendicular to the X direction are referred to as the Y direction and the Z direction, respectively. The Y direction may be referred to as the "width direction", one of the Z directions may be referred to as "upward (Z1 direction)", and the other of the Z directions may be referred to as "downward (Z2 direction)".

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the female connector 2 comprises a female terminal fitting (not shown, sometimes referred to as a female terminal) connected to the electric wire 12 (shown in Figure 1), and a female housing 3 having a terminal housing chamber 3A into which the female terminal is inserted.

[0016] The female housing 3 is made of, for example, an insulating resin. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the female housing 3 comprises a housing body 31 as the connector body in the claim having a terminal housing chamber 3A, and a locking arm 4 provided on the housing body 31 that engages with the locking mechanism 112 of the male connector 11, which will be described later.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing body 31 is composed of a rectangular tube-shaped tubular portion 310 having an upper wall portion 311, a lower wall 312, and a pair of side walls 313A and 313B, a plate-shaped rear wall portion 314 provided at the rear end of the tubular portion 310 and extending in the vertical direction Z and the width direction Y, and a plurality of partition walls 315 partitioning the internal space of the tubular portion 310 in the width direction Y. The plurality of terminal accommodation chambers 3A partitioned in the width direction Y by these partition walls 315, a concave groove 3B into which an engagement release portion 113 of a male connector 11 to be described later enters, and a detection member support portion 3C on which a fitting detection member 5 to be described later is supported.

[0018] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the dimension of the housing body 31 (female housing 3) in the front-rear direction X is formed to be larger than the dimension of the male housing 11B in the front-rear direction X. In a state where the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 are fitted, a portion on the rear X2 side of the housing body 31 (female housing 3) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the housing exposed portion 31B) is exposed. As shown in FIG. 1, a detection member support portion 3C to be described later is provided on the housing exposed portion 31B.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper wall portion 311 includes a pair of wall portions 311A and 311B arranged in the width direction Y, and a housing recess 3D located between the pair of wall portions 311A and 311B. The housing recess 3D is provided at the central portion of the housing body 31 in the width direction Y and is continuously provided in the front-rear direction X. The bottom surface 3Da (shown in FIG. 3) of the housing recess 3D is located below Z2 the upper surfaces of the pair of wall portions 311A and 311B, and a lock arm 4 to be described later is provided on the bottom surface 3Da, so that the lock arm 4 is positioned within the housing recess 3D.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each terminal accommodation chamber 3A is formed in a rectangular tube shape with the front-rear direction X as the extending direction (axial direction of the tube) to accommodate each female terminal.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the groove 3B is provided on the side wall 313B of the housing body 31 on one side in the width direction Y (the same side as the detection member support portion 3C described later). This groove 3B is provided in the middle of the side wall 313B in the vertical direction Z and extends in the front-rear direction X. Furthermore, the groove 3B is formed by cutting out the front X1 edge of the side wall 313B and extends to just before the rear end of the side wall 313B.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the detection member support portion 3C comprises a U-shaped support body 32 consisting of an upper surface portion 32a, a side surface portion 32b, and a lower surface portion 32c located on one side in the width direction Y of the housing exposed portion 31B; an engaging projection 33 (shown in Figure 2) as a projection according to the claim provided on the support body 32; a first sliding portion 34 provided on the upper Z1 side of the side surface portion 32b; and a second sliding portion 35 provided on the lower Z2 side of the side surface portion 32b.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the support body 32 comprises an upper surface portion 32a, a side surface portion 32b, and a lower surface portion 32c. The upper surface portion 32a is composed of a flat surface including the front-rear direction X and the width direction Y. This upper surface portion 32a is provided continuously on one side of the bottom surface 3Da of the housing recess 3D in the width direction Y. The side surface portion 32b is continuous with the upper surface portion 32a and is composed of a flat surface including the front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z. This side surface portion 32b is provided in a recessed position from the housing side surface 3b of the housing body 31. The lower surface portion 32c is continuous with the side surface portion 32b and is composed of a flat surface including the front-rear direction X and the width direction Y. This lower surface portion 32c is provided above Z1 from the lower wall 312 of the housing body 31.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the engaging projection 33 is provided on the upper surface 32a of the support body 32 and protrudes upward Z1 from one end in the width direction Y. The engaging projection 33 is provided with a contact surface 3a that abuts against the extended portion 92 of the fitting detection member 5, which will be described later, when the fitting detection member 5, which will be described later, is in a temporary locking position. The contact surface 3a is composed of orthogonal planes including the front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first slide portion 34 comprises a part of the rear wall portion 314 of the housing body 31 that protrudes upward Z1 from the upper surface portion 32a of the support portion body 32 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the upper portion 314A), an extension wall 36 formed extending forward X1 from the upper portion 314A, a partition wall 37 located between the extension wall 36 and the upper surface portion 32a and facing the extension wall 36, and a locking projection 38 (shown in Figure 3) provided between the extension wall 36 and the partition wall 37 and protruding forward X1 from the upper portion 314A. The locking projection 38 is provided on one side of the upper portion 314A in the width direction Y.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second sliding portion 35 includes a guide portion 350 that guides the fitting detection member 5, which will be described later, in the width direction Y, and a temporary locking projection (not shown) provided on the guide portion 350 that locks the second temporary locking projection 82 of the fitting detection member 5, which will be described later, in a temporary locking position. The guide portion 350 includes a part of the rear wall portion 314 of the housing body 31 that protrudes downward Z2 from the lower surface portion 32c of the support body 32 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the lower portion 314B), and a guide rib 351 that protrudes from the lower surface portion 32c of the support body 32 and is formed to extend in the width direction Y, and the second locking arm 8 of the fitting detection member 5, which will be described later, is configured to slide between the lower portion 314B and the guide rib 351.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the detection member support portion 3C is provided with a rib entry space 39, which is formed from the gap between the extended wall 36 and the wall portion 311B located in front of the extended wall 36 X1. The rib entry space 39 is configured to allow the slide rib 62 of the fitting detection member 5, which will be described later, to enter, and to guide the fitting detection member 5 on the other side in the width direction Y.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lock arm 4 comprises a front connecting portion 40, a rear connecting portion 41 provided behind the front connecting portion 40 by X2, a plate-shaped double-supported beam type arm 42 connected to the housing body 31 by the front connecting portion 40 and the rear connecting portion 41 and extending in the front-rear direction X, a lock projection 43 projecting upward Z1 from the double-supported beam type arm 42, and an operating portion 44 projecting upward from the double-supported beam type arm 42 and provided behind X2 from the lock projection 43. The double-supported beam type arm 42 is provided at a position spaced Z1 upward from the bottom surface 3Da of the housing recess 3D, and the space between the double-supported beam type arm 42 and the bottom surface 3Da of the housing recess 3D is a flex space 45. Furthermore, the engagement between the lock arm 4 and the locked 112 of the male housing 11B, which will be described later, is released by pressing the operating portion 44 and flexing the double-supported beam type arm 42.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the locking projection 43 includes a locking sliding surface 4A that slides against the locked 112 of the male housing 11B (described later), and a locking rear end surface 4B that is continuous with the rear X2 of the locking sliding surface 4A and can contact the locked 112 of the male connector 11 (described later).

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the male connector 11 comprises a male terminal fitting 11A (hereinafter sometimes referred to as male terminal 11A) and a male housing 11B that holds the male terminal 11A. The base end of the male terminal 11A is connected to a substrate (not shown), and the tip is formed extending toward the rear X2 within a hood portion 111 of the male housing 11B, which will be described later.

[0031] The male housing 11B is made of, for example, an insulating resin. As shown in Figure 4, the male housing 11B includes a hood portion 111 for housing the female housing 3, a locking portion 112 provided on the hood portion 111 that engages with a locking arm 4 provided on the female housing 3, and an engagement release portion 113 provided on the hood portion 111 that releases the engagement (contact state) between the engaging projection 33 of the female housing 3 and the engagement arm 9 of the fitting detection member 5, which will be described later.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, the hood portion 111 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape with the front-rear direction X as its axis. The upper hood wall portion 114 of this hood portion 111 comprises a pair of peripheral walls 114A, 114A aligned in the width direction Y, and a plate-shaped locking mechanism 112 provided between the pair of peripheral walls 114A, 114A to connect these peripheral walls 114A. As shown in Figure 8(A), this locking mechanism 112 is provided at a position spaced forward X1 from the rear end of the hood portion 111, and is configured to expose the operating portion 44 of the locking arm 4 provided in the female housing 3 when engaged with the locking arm 4 provided in the female housing 3.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the release portion 113 is provided protruding from the inner surface of the hood portion 111 toward the other side in the width direction Y, and is configured to enter the groove 3B of the female connector 2.

[0034] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the fitting detection member 5 integrally comprises a plate-shaped portion 50 extending in the front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z, a detection portion 6, a first locking arm 7 inserted into the first slide portion 34, a second locking arm 8 inserted into the second slide portion 35, and a cantilever-type engaging arm 9 as the detection arm in the claim.

[0035] On the other side of the plate-shaped portion 50 in the width direction Y, a detection unit 6, a first locking arm 7, a second locking arm 8, and an engagement arm 9 are provided. The detection unit 6 and the first locking arm 7 are located at the upper end of the plate-shaped portion 50, the second locking arm body 81 is located at the lower end of the plate-shaped portion 50, and the engagement arm 9 is located in the middle of the plate-shaped portion 50 in the vertical direction Z. In addition, one outer surface of the plate-shaped portion 50 in the width direction Y (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the pressing surface 50, and given the same reference numeral as the plate-shaped portion 50) is configured to be pressed in by the assembly worker.

[0036] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the detection unit 6 comprises a plate-shaped detection unit body 61 formed extending from the plate-shaped portion 50 to the other side in the width direction Y, a slide rib 62 projecting upward Z1 from the detection unit body 61 and extending in the width direction Y, and a plate-shaped detection contact portion 63 continuous with the detection unit body 61. This detection contact portion 63 is formed extending from the lower end of the tip portion of the detection unit body 61 to the other side in the width direction Y. That is, the tip 6a of the detection contact portion 63 is located further away from the plate-shaped portion 50 than the tip of the detection unit body 61 (on the other side in the width direction Y).

[0037] As shown in Figure 7, the detection unit 6 is configured such that the slide rib 62 is guided to the other side in the width direction Y when it enters the rib entry space 39 of the female housing 3. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8(A) and 8(B), the detection unit 6 is configured such that when the double-supported beam arm 42 is in its natural state, the detection contact portion 63 is inserted into the deflection space 45 of the female housing 3. Also, as shown in Figures 9(A) and 9(B), when the double-supported beam arm 42 is in a deflected state (which may be referred to as the partially fitted state below), the tip surface 6a of the detection contact portion 63 (shown in Figure 9(B)) is configured to contact the side surface 4a of the double-supported beam arm 42 (shown in Figure 9(B)).

[0038] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first locking arm 7 comprises a first locking arm body 71, a first temporary locking projection 72 provided on the first locking arm body 71 which locks onto the locking projection 38 of the female housing 3 in a temporary locking position, and a main locking projection 73 provided on the first locking arm body 71 which locks onto the locking projection 38 of the female housing 3 in a main locking position. The first locking arm body 71 has a base end that is continuous with the plate-shaped portion 50, and a free end at the tip that extends to the other side in the width direction Y. The first temporary locking projection 72 is provided at the tip of the first locking arm body 71, and the main locking projection 73 is provided in the first locking arm body 71 in the intermediate part between the tip and the base end.

[0039] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the second locking arm 8 comprises a second locking arm body 81 and a second temporary locking projection 82 provided on the second locking arm body 81, which locks onto a temporary locking projection (not shown) of the female housing 3 in a temporary locking position. The second locking arm body 81 has a base end that is continuous with the plate-shaped portion 50, and a free end at the tip that extends to the other side in the width direction Y.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, the engaging arm 9 is formed in an L-shape and comprises an engaging arm body 91 and an extended portion 92 as a contact portion as defined in the claim, which extends from the tip of the engaging arm body 91 in a direction perpendicular to the direction (forward X1). The engaging arm body 91 has a base end that is continuous with the plate-shaped portion 50, and a free end at the tip that extends to the other side in the width direction Y.

[0041] As shown in Figure 6, the extended portion 92 is formed in a plate shape that extends in the front-rear direction X and the width direction Y. This extended portion 92 is provided with an arm contact surface 9a that contacts the contact surface 3a (shown in Figure 2) of the engaged projection 33 of the female housing 3, and an arm sliding surface 9b that slides against the disengagement portion 113 of the male connector 11. The arm contact surface 9a is composed of orthogonal surfaces perpendicular to the width direction Y. The arm sliding surface 9b is composed of inclined surfaces that slope upward Z1 as it moves forward X1.

[0042] Next, the assembly procedure for connector unit 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

[0043] First, when assembling the female connector 2, the wires 12 are connected to the female terminals, and the female terminals are brought close to the rear end of the terminal housing chamber 3A of the female housing 3 and inserted. This ensures that the female terminals are properly positioned in the terminal housing chamber 3A. At this time, the wires 12 connected to the female terminals are pulled out from the rear end of each terminal housing chamber 3A.

[0044] Next, the fitting detection member 5 is brought close to the detection member support part 3C and inserted. The slide rib 62 of the detection part 6 of the fitting detection member 5 enters the rib entry space 39 of the detection member support part 3C, the first locking arm 7 is inserted into the first slide part 34, and the second locking arm 8 is inserted into the second slide part 35. As the insertion progresses, the first temporary locking projection 72 of the first locking arm 7 locks onto the locked projection 38 of the first slide part 34, and the second temporary locking projection 82 of the second locking arm 8 locks onto the temporarily locked projection of the second slide part 35. Also, the extended part 92 of the engaging arm 9 and the locked projection 33 of the female housing 3 come into contact. More specifically, the arm contact surface 9a of the extended part 92 and the contact surface 3a of the locked projection 33 come into contact. In this way, the fitting detection member 5 is positioned in the temporary locking position. In other words, with the fitting detection member 5 positioned in the temporary locking position, the arm contact surface 9a of the extended portion 92 and the contact surface 3a of the engaged projection 33 are in contact.

[0045] In this way, when the arm contact surface 9a of the engaging arm 9 and the contact surface 3a of the engaged projection 33 are in contact, the sliding of the fitting detection member 5 from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position is restricted, and the fitting detection member 5 is maintained in the temporary locking position. As a result, even if an external force is applied to the fitting detection member 5, it is prevented from unintentionally sliding from the temporary locking position.

[0046] When mating the female connector 2 and the male connector 11, with the male terminal 11A held in the male housing 11B, the female connector 2 is brought close to the hood portion 111 of the male connector 11, and the groove 3B of the female connector 2 is brought close to the release portion 113 of the male connector 11. When the female connector 2 is inserted into the hood portion 111, the release portion 113 enters the groove 3B.

[0047] As shown in Figure 7, as insertion progresses, the male terminal 11A is inserted into the female terminal, and the locking sliding surface 4A of the lock arm 4 provided on the female connector 2 comes into contact with the locked object 112 of the male connector 11. As insertion progresses further, the double-support beam arm 42 bends as the locking sliding surface 4A slides against the locked object 112, and the double-support beam arm 42 enters the bending space 45. As insertion progresses further and the lock projection 43 overcomes the locked object 112, the double-support beam arm 42 elastically returns to its original shape. The lock projection 43 is positioned in front of the locked object 112 X1, and the locking rear end surface 4B of the lock projection 43 comes into contact with the locked object 112, causing the lock projection 43 to engage with the locked object 112.

[0048] Meanwhile, the release portion 113 of the hood portion 111 moves to the rear X2 side of the groove 3B, and the release portion 113 comes into contact with the arm sliding surface 9b of the engaging arm 9 in the fitting detection member 5. As it moves further, the arm sliding surface 9b is pushed and slid by the release portion 113, and the engaging arm body 91 of the engaging arm 9 bends, releasing the contact between the arm contact surface 9a of the engaging arm 9 and the contact surface 3a of the engaged projection 33 of the female housing 3, that is, the engagement between the extended portion 92 of the engaging arm 9 and the engaged projection 33 of the female housing 3 is released. As a result, sliding from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position by the fitting detection member 5 becomes possible (sliding is permitted).

[0049] In this way, the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 are mated together. When the male connector 11 and the female connector 2 are mated together, the mated state of the male connector 11 and the female connector 2 is maintained by the engagement between the lock arm 4 of the female connector 2 and the locking mechanism 112 of the male connector 11.

[0050] Subsequently, as shown in Figures 8(A) and 8(B), the mating detection member 5 is pushed in from its temporary locking position, and the main locking projection 73 of the mating detection member 5 engages with the locking projection 38 of the female connector 2. At the same time, the detection contact portion 63 of the mating detection member 5 is inserted into the flex space 45 of the female housing 3. This positions the mating detection member 5 in the main locking position, and the pressing surface 50 of the mating detection member 5 is positioned flush with the side surface 3b of the housing of the female connector 2. In this way, the male connector 11 and the female connector 2 are fully mated (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the fully mated state), and the assembly of the connector unit 1 is completed.

[0051] Here, when the mating detection member 5 is pushed in from the temporary locking position, that is, when sliding to the permanent locking position is permitted, the worker recognizes that there is no abnormality in the assembly process. However, as shown in Figures 9(A)(B) and 10, when the double-supported beam arm 42 of the lock arm 4 remains elastically deformed toward the deflection space 45 and has not returned to its original state, even if the mating detection member 5 is pushed in, as shown in Figures 9(B) and 10, the detection contact portion 63 of the mating detection member 5 comes into contact with the side surface 4a of the double-supported beam arm 42, preventing the mating detection member 5 from sliding. In other words, as shown in Figures 9(A) and 9(B), when the mating detection member 5 is in an intermediate mating state, the sliding of the mating detection member 5 is restricted, and the plate-shaped portion 50 of the mating detection member 5 protrudes from the female connector 2.

[0052] In this case, as shown in Figures 9(A) and 9(B), the operator visually confirms that the plate-shaped portion 50 of the mating detection member 5 is protruding from the female connector 2, thereby recognizing that the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 are in a partially mated state. As a result, the mating detection member 5 detects that the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 are in a partially mated state.

[0053] Next, the worker brings the female connector 2 close to the hood portion 111 of the male connector 11, engages the lock arm 4 of the female connector 2 with the locking portion 112 of the male connector 11, and then pushes the mating detection member 5 to the locking position to fully mat the male connector 11 and the female connector 2.

[0054] According to the embodiment described above, the female connector 2 (first connector) has a double-supported beam type arm 42 that extends in the front-rear direction X (fitting direction) where the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 are mated, and both ends in the front-rear direction X are fixed to the housing body 31 (connector body). The mating detection member 5 is provided so as to be slidable in the width direction Y (orthogonal direction) and has a detection part 6 that extends in the width direction Y. When the double-supported beam type arm 42 is in its natural state, the detection part 6 is allowed to be inserted (slid) into the space between the housing body 31 and the double-supported beam type arm 42 (flex space 45). When the double-supported beam type arm 42 is flexed, the detection part 6 comes into contact with the double-supported beam type arm 42, restricting the sliding of the mating detection member 5, and preventing the detection part 6 from being inserted into the space between the housing body 31 and the double-supported beam type arm 42 (flex space 45). According to this, the lock arm 4 of the female connector 2 has a double-supported beam arm 42, which makes it difficult for the double-supported beam arm 42 to be damaged even when subjected to external force. This prevents the detection of the partially mated state of the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 from becoming impossible. In other words, the mating state of the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 can be detected more reliably.

[0055] Furthermore, the mating detection member 5 is positioned in a temporary locking position where it protrudes from the female connector 2 (first connector) in the width direction Y (orthogonal direction), and a permanent locking position where it is pushed further into the female connector 2 than the temporary locking position. When the lock arm 4 is engaged with the second connector 11, the mating detection member 5 is allowed to slide from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position. As a result, the worker can recognize that there is no abnormality in the assembly process because the mating detection member 5 is allowed to slide from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position.

[0056] Furthermore, the female connector 2 (first connector) has an engaging projection 33 (projection), and the mating detection member 5 has an extended portion 92 (contact portion) that can contact the engaging projection 33. When the extended portion 92 is in contact with the engaging projection 33, the mating detection member 5 is restricted from sliding from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position. As a result, even if an external force is applied to the mating detection member 5, it is prevented from unintentionally sliding from the temporary locking position, and the state in which the mating detection member 5 is in the temporary locking position is maintained.

[0057] Furthermore, the female connector 2 (first connector) is provided with a groove 3B, and the male connector 11 (second connector) is provided with an engagement release portion 113 that protrudes toward the female connector 2 and enters the groove 3B. The mating detection member 5 has a cantilever-type engagement arm 9 (detection arm) that extends in the width direction Y (orthogonal direction), and an extended portion 92 (contact portion) is provided at the free end of the engagement arm 9. As the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 are brought closer together in the front-rear direction X (mating direction), the engagement release portion 113 contacts the extended portion 92, causing the engagement arm 9 to bend and releasing the contact between the engaged projection 33 and the extended portion 92. In other words, the contact between the engaged projection 33 and the extended portion 92 can be released without worsening work efficiency.

[0058] Furthermore, the mating detection member 5 has a pressing surface 50 provided at the end of the detection unit 6 in the width direction Y (orthogonal direction), and the pressing surface 50 is on the same plane as the housing side surface 3b (side surface) of the housing body 31 (connector body) when the mating detection member 5 is in the locked position. As a result, the operator can recognize that the female connector 2 and the male connector 11 are fully mated by visually confirming that the mating detection member 5 is on the same plane as the housing side surface 3b of the housing body 31 (connector body).

[0059] Furthermore, while the best configurations and methods for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in the above description, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention is particularly illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the embodiments described above in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and objectives of the present invention. Therefore, the limiting descriptions of shape, material, etc. disclosed above are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Accordingly, descriptions of components with some or all of these limitations removed are included in the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 1 Connector Unit 2 Female connectors (first connector) 11 Male connector (second connector) 112 Approach release section 31 Housing body (connector body) 3B Groove 3b Housing side (side of the connector body) 33 Engaged protrusion (protrusion) 4 Lock Arms 42 Double-supported beam type arm 5. Fitting detection member 50 Pressing surface 6. Detection Unit 9. Engaging arm (detection arm) 92 Extension part (contact part)

Claims

1. A connector unit comprising a first connector and a second connector that can be mated with each other, and a mating detection member supported by the first connector, The first connector comprises a connector body and a locking arm provided on the connector body and capable of engaging with the second connector. The lock arm extends in the mating direction in which the first connector and the second connector are mated, and has a double-supported beam type arm with both ends in the mating direction fixed to the connector body. The fitting detection member is provided so as to be slidable in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, and has a detection portion extending in the orthogonal direction. When the double-supported arm is in its natural state, the detection unit is allowed to slide between the connector body and the double-supported arm. A connector unit characterized in that, when the double-supported beam arm is in a bent state, the detection unit contacts the double-supported beam arm, thereby restricting the sliding of the mating detection member.

2. The mating detection member is positioned in a temporary locking position that protrudes from the first connector in the orthogonal direction, and in a permanent locking position that is pushed further into the first connector than the temporary locking position. The connector unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the engaged state in which the lock arm is engaged with the second connector, the mating detection member is allowed to slide from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position.

3. The first connector has a projection, The fitting detection member has a contact portion that can contact the projection, The connector unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, with the contact portion in contact with the projection, the fitting detection member is restricted from sliding from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position.

4. The first connector is provided with a groove extending in the mating direction on the side surface of the connector body. The second connector is provided with a release portion that protrudes toward the first connector and enters the groove, The fitting detection member has a cantilever-type detection arm that extends in the orthogonal direction, and the contact portion is provided at the free end of the detection arm. The connector unit according to claim 3, characterized in that as the first connector and the second connector are brought closer in the mating direction, the release portion comes into contact with the contact portion, the detection arm bends, and the contact between the projection portion and the contact portion is released.

5. The fitting detection member has a pressing surface provided at the orthogonal end of the detection portion and which is pressed into place. The connector unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressing surface is on the same plane as the side surface of the connector body when the mating detection member is in the locking position.

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