connector

Abstract

To improve reliability of a function which holds a double force functional member at a fitting start position.SOLUTION: A connector comprises: a slider 30 which is provided in a first housing 11 and displaced from a fitting start position to a fitting completion position relatively to the first housing 11, thereby fitting the first housing 11 with a second housing 61; a holding section 42 formed in the slider 30 and including an arm-shaped lock piece 43 which extends in a cantilevered shape in the same direction as a displacement direction in relatively displacing the slider 30 from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position; a stopper 16 formed in the first housing 11 and regulating the movement of the slider 30 at the fitting start position to the fitting completion position by abutting an abutment part 45 in an extension end of the arm-shaped lock piece 43 in the same direction as an extension direction of the arm-shaped lock piece 43; and a buckling regulation section 39 provided in the slider 30 and regulating buckling of the arm-shaped lock piece 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , ,

[0005] , , , ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a lever-type connector that exhibits a double-force function by providing a rotating lever and a sliding member that moves in parallel in a housing. When fitting the lever-type connector with a mating connector, with the sliding member and the lever held in their initial positions, a cam follower with a flange of the mating connector is fitted into the cam groove of the sliding member. Next, by rotating the lever, the sliding member is slid from the initial position to the fitting position, and the mating connector is pulled toward the lever-type connector and fitted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As a means for holding the sliding member and the lever in their initial positions, an elastic arm having a shape extending in a cantilever manner is formed on the sliding member, and the extending end portion of the elastic arm is locked in a locking recess of the housing. The elastic arm described in Patent Document 1 extends in a direction opposite to the moving direction when the sliding member is displaced from the initial position to the fitting position. Conversely, the elastic arm can be formed in a shape that extends in a cantilever manner in the same direction as the moving direction of the sliding member from the initial position to the fitting position. In this case, there is a concern that the elastic arm may buckle when an external force in the direction toward the fitting position acts strongly on the sliding member in the initial position. The concern about buckling is not limited to the case where the elastic arm is formed on the sliding member, but is the same when the elastic arm is formed on the lever.

[0005] The lever-type connector of this disclosure was completed based on the circumstances described above, and aims to improve the reliability of the function of holding the force-multiplying member in the mating start position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector disclosed herein is The first housing and A second housing that can be fitted with the first housing, A force-enhancing functional member provided in the first housing, which moves relative to the first housing from a fitting start position to a fitting completion position to fit the first housing and the second housing together, A holding portion is formed on one of the members of the force-amplifying functional member and the first housing, and has an arm-shaped locking piece that extends in a cantilever manner in the same direction as the displacement direction of the one member when the force-amplifying functional member is displaced relative to it from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position, A stopper is formed on the other member of the first housing, which is the force-amplifying functional member, and the abutment portion of the extended end of the arm-shaped locking piece abuts against it in the same direction as the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece, thereby restricting the force-amplifying functional member from moving from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position. The device includes a buckling restricting portion provided on the force-amplifying functional member or the first housing, which restricts the buckling of the arm-shaped locking piece. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the reliability of the function of holding the force-multiplying member in the fitting start position can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the mating state of the connector in Example 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the disassembled state of the first connector. [Figure 3]Figure 3 is a perspective view of the second connector. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the slider. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a side view of the slider. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the slider in the mating start position and the state before the first and second connectors are mated. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the first connector and the second connector have begun to mate. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing the first connector and the second connector in a mated state. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of line AA in Figure 6, showing the holding state by the retaining part. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line AA in Figure 6, showing how the buckling deformation of the arm-shaped locking piece is restricted when it is held by the retaining part. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 7, taken along line BB, showing the state in which the holding mechanism has released the object. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is (1) The device comprises a first housing, a second housing that can be fitted to the first housing, a force-amplifying functional member provided on the first housing that engages the first housing and the second housing by being displaced relative to the first housing from a fitting start position to a fitting completion position, a holding portion formed on one of the force-amplifying functional member and the first housing and having an arm-shaped locking piece that extends cantilevered in the same direction as the displacement direction of the one member when the force-amplifying functional member is displaced relative to the first member from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position, a stopper formed on the other of the force-amplifying functional member and the first housing that restricts the movement of the force-amplifying functional member from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position by the abutment portion of the extended end of the arm-shaped locking piece abutting in the same direction as the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece, and a buckling restricting portion provided on the force-amplifying functional member or the first housing that restricts the buckling of the arm-shaped locking piece. According to the configuration of this disclosure, even if an external force is applied to the force-amplifying functional member toward the completed fitting position while the abutment portion of the arm-shaped locking piece is abutting against the stopper of the other member, the buckling-restricting portion prevents the arm-shaped locking piece from buckling. Since the arm-shaped locking piece does not buckle, the reliability of the function of holding the force-amplifying functional member in the fitting start position is excellent.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the buckling restricting portion is positioned on the opposite side of the stopper from the abutment portion. With this configuration, the abutment portion comes into contact with the buckling restricting portion, thereby preventing the buckling of the arm-shaped locking piece.

[0011] (3)(2) Preferably, the holding portion has a support portion that is axial in shape and extends in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece, connecting the base end of the arm-shaped locking piece and the one member, and the arm-shaped locking piece is capable of tilting in a direction that increases or decreases the area of ​​contact between the abutment portion and the stopper while twisting the support portion. With this configuration, even if the tilt angle of the arm-shaped locking piece is increased and the area of ​​contact between the abutment portion and the stopper is increased, the stress generated in the support portion can be reduced.

[0012] (4) In (3), it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the support portion is circular. According to this configuration, when the support portion is twisted and deformed, the stress can be effectively dispersed.

[0013] (5) In (3) or (4), it is preferable that the support portion is provided with a movement restricting surface that faces parallel to the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece. According to this configuration, when the support portion elastically deforms so as to tilt its axis, the amount of deformation of the support portion can be suppressed by the support portion abutting against the movement restricting surface.

[0014] (6) In (3) or (4), the holding portion has a release extending portion that extends from the base end portion of the arm-shaped locking piece in a direction opposite to the abutting portion, and the second housing has a holding release portion that can interfere with the release extending portion as the second housing and the double force function member are fitted together. It is preferable that the holding release portion interferes with the release extending portion in a state where the abutting portion faces the stopper, so that the holding portion tilts and the abutting portion is displaced to a position not facing the stopper. According to this configuration, when the second housing and the double force function member are fitted together while the double force function member is held at the fitting start position by the holding portion, the holding by the holding portion is released due to the interference between the holding release portion and the release extending portion. Therefore, a manual operation for releasing the holding is not required.

[0015] (7) In (6), it is preferable that the separation dimension from the support portion to the interference position with the holding release portion in the release extending portion is smaller than the separation dimension from the support portion to the abutting portion. According to this configuration, since the displacement amount of the abutting portion at the time of holding release is larger than the displacement amount of the release extending portion, a large opposing area between the abutting portion and the stopper can be ensured.

[0016] In (8)(6), it is preferable that the other member has a tilting restricting surface formed on the opposite side of the direction of displacement of the abutment portion due to interference between the holding release portion and the release extension portion. With this configuration, even if the abutment portion pressed against the stopper slips against the stopper, the abutment portion can be held in a state of abutting against the stopper.

[0017] [Details of the embodiments of this disclosure] [Example 1] A connector of Embodiment 1 embodying this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11. The present invention is not limited to these examples and is shown in the claims, with all modifications included in the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In Embodiment 1, the forward direction is defined as the positive direction of the X-axis in Figures 1 to 11. The left-right direction is defined as the positive direction of the Y-axis in Figures 1 to 4, 9 to 11. The left-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously. The up-down direction is defined as the positive direction of the Z-axis in Figures 1 to 8.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the connector of this embodiment 1 comprises a first connector 10 and a second connector 60 that can be mated together. The first connector 10 has a lever 20 and a slider 30 as force-multiplying members. The lever 20 and the slider 30 exert a force-multiplying function by cooperating with each other. By applying a small operating force to the lever 20, the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 can be mated together.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the first connector 10 comprises a first housing 11, a symmetrical lever 20, and a pair of symmetrically shaped sliders 30. The first housing 11 consists of a housing body 12 made of synthetic resin and a wire cover 13 made of synthetic resin attached to the upper surface of the housing body 12. A female first terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the housing body 12. A wire (not shown) connected to the first terminal fitting is led out to the upper part of the housing body 12, bent within the wire cover 13, and led out to the rear of the first housing 11.

[0020] A pair of guide spaces 14 extending in the front-rear direction are formed inside the housing body 12. The pair of guide spaces 14 are positioned along the left and right outer wall portions 15 of the housing body 12. The front and rear ends of the guide spaces 14 open in a vertically elongated slit shape on the front and rear end surfaces of the housing body 12. As shown in Figures 9-11, a stopper 16 and a tilting restricting surface 17 are formed at the front and rear ends of the guide spaces 14 by recessing the inner surface of the outer wall portion 15 (the surface facing the guide spaces 14). The stopper 16 faces the rear. The tilting restricting surface 17 faces the guide spaces 14. The front end of the tilting restricting surface 17 is connected perpendicularly to the stopper 16. A pair of shaft portions 18 are formed on the left and right outer surfaces of the wire cover 13.

[0021] The lever 20 is a single component made of synthetic resin, having an elongated operating section 21 in the left-right direction and a pair of left and right arm sections 22 extending from both ends of the operating section 21. Bearing holes 23 formed in the arm sections 22 are fitted onto the shaft section 18 of the first housing 11. When the operating section 21 is grasped and operating force is applied to the lever 20, the lever 20 rotates around the shaft section 18 between a fitting start position (see Figures 1, 6, and 7) and a fitting completion position (see Figure 8). At the fitting start position, the operating section 21 is positioned in front of the shaft section 18, and at the fitting completion position, the operating section 21 is positioned behind the shaft section 18. A gear 24 is formed on the inner surface of the arm section 22, forming an arc shape concentric with the shaft section 18.

[0022] The slider 30 is a single component made of synthetic resin material and has a plate-shaped body portion 31 and a holding portion 42. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the plate-shaped body portion 31 is a rectangular plate-shaped part with its long side oriented in the front-to-back direction. A rack 32 extending in the front-to-back direction is formed on the upper edge of the plate-shaped body portion 31. Of the left and right surfaces of the plate-shaped body portion 31, the surface where the two plate-shaped body portions 31 face each other is defined as the inner surface 31N, and the surface where the two plate-shaped body portions 31 do not face each other is defined as the outer surface 31G. Two cam grooves 33 are formed on the inner surface 31N of the plate-shaped body portion 31, spaced apart in the front-to-back direction. The entrance 33E of the cam grooves 33 opens to the lower surface of the plate-shaped body portion 31.

[0023] A pair of sliders 30 are mounted on the housing body 12, housed within a pair of guide spaces 14 with their plate thickness direction oriented left to right. As shown in Figures 6-8, with the wire cover 13 attached to the housing body 12, the gear 24 of the lever 20 is engaged with the correct position on the rack 32 of the slider 30. When the lever 20 is in the engagement start position, the slider 30 is positioned at the rear end engagement start position in the guide space 14 (see Figures 6 and 7). When the lever 20 is in the engagement completion position, the slider 30 is positioned at the front end engagement completion position in the guide space 14 (see Figure 8). When the lever 20 is operated, the slider 30 moves parallel to the front in the front-rear direction between the engagement start position and the engagement completion position. Hereinafter, "front-rear direction" is used synonymously with "direction of movement of the slider 30 between the engagement start position and the engagement completion position."

[0024] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of the left and right plate-shaped main body portions 31 has a housing space 35 for housing the retaining portion 42. The housing space 35 opens to the inner surface 31N and the outer surface 31G of the plate-shaped main body portion 31. The housing space 35 consists of one first groove portion 36, a pair of upper and lower recesses 37, and a pair of upper and lower second groove portions 38. The first groove portion 36 is a space that extends elongated in the front-rear direction. The recesses 37 are recessed spaces that widen the front end of the first groove portion 36 in both the up and down directions. Of the plate-shaped main body portion 31, the upper and lower pair of portions facing the upper and lower recesses 37 from the rear side function as buckling restricting portions 39. In the front-rear direction, the buckling restricting portions 39 are positioned on the fitting start position side (rear side) of the recesses 37. The second groove portion 38 is positioned behind the center of the first groove portion 36 in the front-rear direction and is a space that extends from the first groove portion 36 in both the up and down directions. The front and rear inner wall surfaces of both the upper and lower second grooves 38 function as movement restricting surfaces 40 that face each other in the front-rear direction with a clearance between them and the support portion 48 of the holding portion 42, which will be described later.

[0025] The retaining portion 42 is a part that performs the function of holding the slider 30 and lever 20 in the engagement start position. The retaining portion 42 is composed of one elongated arm-shaped locking piece 43 extending in the front-rear direction, one abutment portion 45, a pair of upper and lower support portions 48, and one release extension portion 49. The arm-shaped locking piece 43 has a cantilevered shape that extends forward from the base end portion 44 of the retaining portion 42. The direction of extension of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is the same direction as the direction in which the slider 30 moves from the engagement start position to the engagement completion position. The base end portion 44 (rear end portion) of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is the same portion as the base end portion 44 of the retaining portion 42. The arm-shaped locking piece 43 is housed in the region of the first groove portion 36 that communicates with the second groove portion 38, and in the region of the first groove portion 36 that is forward of the second groove portion 38.

[0026] The abutment portion 45 is composed of an extended end (front end) of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 and a pair of upper and lower widening portions 46, and is rectangular in shape. The widening portions 46 are parts that protrude vertically from the front end of the arm-shaped locking piece 43. Hereinafter, "vertical direction" is used synonymously with "direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slider 30 between the fitting start position and the fitting completion position." The extended end face (front end face) of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 and the front surface of the widening portion 46 function as a flush locking surface. The widening portion 46 of the abutment portion 45 is housed in the recess 37. The widening portion 46 and the buckling restricting portion 39 are arranged with a clearance between them so as to face each other in the same direction as the movement direction of the slider 30. In the movement direction of the slider 30, the buckling restricting portion 39 is positioned closer to the fitting start position than the widening portion 46. In other words, the buckling-restricting portion 39 is positioned to face the abutment portion 45 from the support portion 48 side.

[0027] The pair of upper and lower support portions 48 are parts that extend vertically from the base end portion 44 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 and are housed within the second groove portion 38. The extended ends of the support portions 48 are connected to the plate-shaped main body portion 31 at the upper or lower end of the second groove portion 38. The holding portion 42 is supported by the plate-shaped main body portion 31 by the pair of support portions 48. The support portions 48 are rod-shaped with their axes oriented vertically. The cross-sectional shape of the support portions 48 is circular. The support portions 48 and the movement restricting surface 40 are arranged with a clearance between them so as to face each other in the same direction as the movement direction of the slider 30. In the movement direction of the slider 30, the movement restricting surface 40 is positioned closer to the engagement start position than the support portions 48.

[0028] The release extension 49 is a portion that extends cantilevered backward from the base end 44 of the holding portion 42 in the opposite direction to the arm-shaped locking piece 43. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a pressure-receiving surface 50 inclined in both the vertical and horizontal directions is formed at the rear end of the release extension 49. The release extension 49 is housed in the region of the first groove 36 that is rearward of the second groove 38.

[0029] An interference avoidance groove 51 is formed on the inner surface 31N of the plate-shaped main body portion 31. The interference avoidance groove 51 opens at the lower end edge of the plate-shaped main body portion 31 and has the same shape as the cam groove 33. The interference avoidance groove 51 is positioned to pass through the rear end of the first groove portion 36. The pressure receiving surface 50 is located in the middle of the interference avoidance groove 51. As shown in Figure 9, in the front-rear direction, the distance S from the center of the support portion 48 to the rear end of the pressure receiving surface 50 is smaller than the distance L from the center of the support portion 48 to the front end of the abutment portion 45.

[0030] The retaining portion 42 is normally held in a free state in the retaining position (see Figures 9 and 10) by the shape-retaining properties of the support portion 48. When the retaining portion 42 is in the retaining position, the locking portion 52, which is the outer end of the abutment portion 45 in the width direction, protrudes outward in the width direction (downward in Figures 9 and 10) from the outer surface 31G of the plate-shaped main body portion 31. The abutment portion 45 is positioned to face the buckling restricting portion 39 from the side of the completed fitting position (front).

[0031] The retaining portion 42 can tilt in the left-right direction with the support portion 48 as a fulcrum. Hereinafter, the left-right direction is used synonymously with "the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement between the fitting start position and the fitting completion position of the slider 30." The retaining portion 42 can be displaced from the retaining position to the release position (see Figure 11) while elastically twisting and deforming the support portion 48. When the retaining portion 42 is displaced to the release position, the entire abutment portion 45, including the locking portion 52, is housed within the first groove portion 36 and the recess portion 37.

[0032] The second connector 60 is constructed by assembling a second housing 61 with a plurality of male second male terminal fittings (not shown). As shown in Figure 3, the second housing 61 is a single component having a terminal body portion 62 and a hood portion 63 that rises upward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the terminal body portion 62. The second terminal fitting is attached to the terminal body portion 62 and protrudes into the hood portion 63. On the left and right outer surfaces of the hood portion 63, a pair of cam followers 64 are formed, each spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The cam followers 64 are cylindrical projections. On both the front and rear ends of the left and right outer surfaces of the hood portion 63, projection-shaped retaining release portions 65 are formed.

[0033] Next, the mating procedure for the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 will be explained. In the first connector 10, the lever 20 and slider 30 are moved to the mating start position. The slider 30 in the mating start position is held in the mating start position by the holding part 42, which restricts its movement toward the mating completion position. Figures 9 to 11 show the holding structure of the right slider 30. The holding structure of the left slider 30 is symmetrical to that of the right slider 30, so its explanation is omitted.

[0034] When both connectors 10 and 60 are not mated and the slider 30 is in the mating start position, as shown in Figure 9, the holding portion 42 is in the holding position and the locking portion 52 of the abutment portion 45 is positioned to face the stopper 16 of the first housing 11 from the rear with a clearance between them. When a force is applied to move the slider 30 toward the mating completion position, the locking portion 52 abuts against the stopper 16, thereby restricting the movement of the slider 30.

[0035] If the force moving the slider 30 toward the completed fitting position is strong, as shown in Figure 10, the abutment portion 45 remains abutting against the stopper 16, and the plate-shaped main body portion 31 and the extended end portion of the support portion 48 from the arm-shaped locking piece 43 move forward relative to the abutment portion 45. Here, the abutment portion 45 is formed at the extended end (front end) of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 which extends cantilevered from the support portion 48 toward the completed fitting position. Therefore, there is a concern that the arm-shaped locking piece 43 may buckle and deform between the support portion 48 and the abutment portion 45. However, as soon as the plate-shaped main body portion 31 and the support portion 48 move slightly relative to the abutment portion 45, the buckling restricting portion 39 comes into contact with the widened portion 46 of the abutment portion 45 from behind, so the plate-shaped main body portion 31 and the support portion 48 do not move any further forward relative to the abutment portion 45. Therefore, the arm-shaped locking piece 43 will not buckle or deform between the support portion 48 and the abutment portion 45.

[0036] Furthermore, since the locking portion 52 is positioned offset outward in the width direction relative to the support portion 48, there is a concern that when a force is applied to the slider 30 toward the fitted position, the abutment portion 45 may be displaced outward in the width direction (downward in Figures 9 and 10) and come off the stopper 16. However, a tilting restricting surface 17 is positioned adjacent to the stopper 16 in the width direction, and the abutment portion 45 comes into contact with this tilting restricting surface 17 from the inside in the width direction, so the locking portion 52 will not come off the stopper 16.

[0037] Next, with the lever 20 and slider 30 held in the mating start position, the hood portion 63 of the second connector 60 is fitted into the housing body 12 of the first connector 10 from below. The hood portion 63 is fitted into the housing body 12 along the inner surfaces 31N of both the left and right plate-shaped body portions 31 (left and right sliders 30), and as shown in Figure 7, the cam follower 64 enters the entrance 33E of the cam groove 33. During the process of the hood portion 63 entering, the retaining release portion 65 moves within the interference avoidance groove 51 and presses against the pressure receiving surface 50 of the release extension portion 49. Due to this pressing action, as shown in Figure 11, the retaining portion 42 tilts to the retaining release position with the support portion 48 as a fulcrum, and the abutment portion 45 (locking portion 52) is displaced to a position where it is detached inward in the width direction relative to the stopper 16. As a result, the slider 30 is released from the holding state by the abutment portion 45 and the stopper 16, and becomes capable of moving toward the fitted position.

[0038] Next, grasp the operating part 21 of the lever 20 and rotate the lever 20 from the mating start position to the mating completion position. As the lever 20 is operated, the slider 30 moves from the mating start position to the mating completion position, and the sliding motion between the cam groove 33 and the cam follower 64 pulls the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 upward and downward. As shown in Figure 8, when the lever 20 and the slider 30 reach the mating completion position, the mating of the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 is completed.

[0039] To disengage the mated first connector 10 and second connector 60, the lever 20 is rotated from the mating completion position to the liner mating start position. This operation causes the slider 30 to move from the mating completion position to the mating start position, and the sliding of the cam follower 64 causes the first connector 10 and second connector 60 to disengage.

[0040] When the slider 30 is removed from the first housing 11, if the holding portion 42 tilts significantly outward in the width direction, causing the widening portion 46 to move outward from the outer surface 31G of the plate-shaped main body portion 31, and if an external force in the front-rear direction is applied to the holding portion 42, the support portion 48 deforms so as to tilt significantly in the front-rear direction. At this time, the support portion 48 comes into contact with the movement restricting surface 40, thereby restricting the relative movement of the holding portion 42 in the front-rear direction with respect to the plate-shaped main body portion 31. This prevents the support portion 48 from undergoing plastic deformation or fracture.

[0041] The connector of this embodiment 1 includes a first housing 11, a second housing 61 that can be mated with the first housing 11, a force-amplifying functional member (lever 20 and slider 30) provided on the first housing 11, and a buckling-restricting portion 39. The lever 20 and slider 30 move relative to the first housing 11 from a mating start position to a mating completion position, thereby mating the first housing 11 and the second housing 61.

[0042] A holding portion 42 is formed on the slider 30, which is a force-multiplying functional member. The holding portion 42 has an arm-shaped locking piece 43 that extends cantilevered in the same direction as the displacement direction of the slider 30 when the slider 30 is displaced relative to it from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position. A stopper 16 is formed on the first housing 11. When the abutment portion 45 of the extended end of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 abuts against the stopper 16 in the same direction as the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece 43, the stopper 16 restricts the movement of the slider 30 from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position. The slider 30 is provided with a buckling restricting portion 39 that restricts the buckling of the arm-shaped locking piece 43.

[0043] Even when an external force is applied to the slider 30 toward the fitted position while the abutment portion 45 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is abutting against the stopper 16 of the first housing 11, the buckling restricting portion 39 prevents the arm-shaped locking piece 43 from buckling. The buckling restricting portion 39 is located on the opposite side of the stopper 16 from the abutment portion 45 in the direction of movement of the slider 30. The abutment portion 45 abutting against the buckling restricting portion 39 prevents the arm-shaped locking piece 43 from buckling. Since the arm-shaped locking piece 43 does not buckle, the reliability of its function in holding the slider 30 in the fitted start position is excellent.

[0044] The holding portion 42 has a pair of upper and lower support portions 48. The support portions 48 are axial in shape, extending vertically perpendicular to the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece 43, and connect the base end portion 44 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 to the plate-shaped main body portion 31 of the slider 30. The arm-shaped locking piece 43 can tilt in the width direction, increasing or decreasing the area of ​​contact between the abutment portion 45 and the stopper 16, while twisting the support portion 48. Because the support portion 48 is slender and axial, even if the tilt angle of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is increased and the area of ​​contact between the abutment portion 45 and the stopper 16 is increased, the stress generated in the support portion 48 can be reduced. Because the cross-sectional shape of the support portion 48 is circular, stress can be effectively distributed when the support portion 48 is twisted.

[0045] The slider 30 has a movement-restricting surface 40 that faces the support portion 48 in the front-rear direction, parallel to the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece 43. When the support portion 48 is elastically deformed so that its axis is tilted in the front-rear direction, the amount of deformation of the support portion 48 can be suppressed by the support portion 48 coming into contact with the movement-restricting surface 40.

[0046] The retaining portion 42 has a release extension portion 49 that extends from the base end portion 44 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 in the opposite direction (rearward) from the abutment portion 45. The second housing 61 has a retaining release portion 65. The retaining release portion 65 interferes with the release extension portion 49 as the cam follower 64 of the second housing 61 and the cam groove 33 of the slider 30 are fitted together. When the retaining release portion 65 interferes with the release extension portion 49 while the abutment portion 45 is facing the stopper 16, the retaining portion 42 tilts and the abutment portion 45 is displaced to a position not facing the stopper 16. When the second housing 61 (cam follower 64) and the slider 30 (cam groove 33) are fitted together while the slider 30 is held in the fitting start position by the retaining portion 42, the retaining by the retaining portion 42 is released due to the interference between the retaining release portion 65 and the release extension portion 49. Therefore, manual release operation is unnecessary.

[0047] In the front-rear direction, the separation dimension S from the support portion 48 to the interference position (pressure receiving surface 50) between the release extension portion 49 and the retaining release portion 65 is smaller than the separation dimension L from the support portion 48 to the abutment portion 45. With this configuration, the amount of displacement of the abutment portion 45 when the retaining is released is greater than the amount of displacement of the release extension portion 49, so a large facing area between the abutment portion 45 and the stopper 16 can be secured.

[0048] The first housing 11 has a tilting restricting surface 17 that faces the abutment portion 45 from the opposite direction of displacement of the abutment portion 45 due to interference between the holding release portion 65 and the release extension portion 49. With this configuration, even if the abutment portion 45, which is pressed against the stopper 16, slips relative to the stopper 16, the abutment portion 45 can be held in a state of abutting against the stopper 16.

[0049] [Other examples] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, but is shown in the claims. The present invention includes the meaning of equivalents of the claims and all modifications within the claims, and also includes the following embodiments. In the above embodiment 1, the buckling restricting portion was formed on a slider, similar to the arm-shaped locking piece, but the buckling restricting portion may also be formed on the first housing or lever. In the above embodiment 1, the arm-shaped locking piece was formed on the slider, but the arm-shaped locking piece may also be formed on the lever or on the first housing. If the arm-shaped locking piece is formed on the lever, the buckling restricting portion may be formed on the lever, the first housing, or the slider. If the arm-shaped locking piece is formed on the first housing, the buckling restricting portion may be formed on the first housing, the lever, or the slider. In the above embodiment 1, the power-enhancing functional member is composed of two parts, a lever and a slider. However, the power-enhancing functional member may consist of only a lever, or only a slider. In the above embodiment 1, the buckling restricting portion is positioned to face the abutment portion from the support portion side, but the buckling restricting portion may also be positioned to face the arm-shaped locking piece in the direction of tilting of the arm-shaped locking piece. In the above embodiment 1, the support portion is axial in shape, but the support portion may have a shape other than axial. In Example 1, the cross-sectional shape of the support part is circular, but the cross-sectional shape of the support part may also be elliptical, oblong, triangular, square, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 10…First connector 11…1st Housing 12… Housing body 13…Wire cover 14… Guide Space 15...Outer wall part 16... Stopper 17…Tilting regulating surface 18... Shaft 20... Lever (force-assisting component) 21...Operation unit 22...Arm section 23...Bearing hole 24... Gears 30... Slider (force-assisting component) 31... Plate-shaped main body 31G...Outer surface of the plate-shaped main body 31N...Inner surface of the plate-shaped main body 32... Rack 33... Cam groove 33E...Cam groove entrance 35…Containment space 36...First trench section 37…recess 38... Second trench section 39... Buckling-restricted section 40…Movement restrictions 42...Holding part 43...Arm-shaped locking piece 44...Proximal end 45... Assault Section 46... Widening section 48...Support part 49...Release extension part 50...Pressure receiving surface (interference point with the holding release part in the release extension part) 51... Interference avoidance groove 52... Locking part 60…Second connector 61...Second Housing 62...Terminal body 63…Food Department 64...Come Follower 65...Holding release section L... Distance from the support portion to the point of interference between the release portion and the retaining release portion in the release extension portion. S... Distance from the support part to the abutment part

Claims

1. The first housing and A second housing that can be fitted with the first housing, A force-enhancing functional member provided in the first housing, which moves relative to the first housing from a fitting start position to a fitting completion position to fit the first housing and the second housing together, A holding portion is formed on one of the members of the force-amplifying functional member and the first housing, and has an arm-shaped locking piece that extends in a cantilever manner in the same direction as the displacement direction of the one member when the force-amplifying functional member is displaced relative to it from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position, A stopper is formed on the other member of the first housing, which is the force-amplifying functional member, and which restricts the movement of the force-amplifying functional member from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position by the abutment portion of the extended end of the arm-shaped locking piece abutting in the same direction as the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece. The force-amplifying functional member or the first housing is provided with a buckling restricting portion that restricts the buckling of the arm-shaped locking piece, The buckling restricting portion is positioned on the opposite side of the stopper, with the abutment portion in between. The holding portion has a shaft shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece, and has a support portion that connects the base end of the arm-shaped locking piece and the one member. The aforementioned arm-shaped locking piece is a connector that can tilt in a direction that increases or decreases the opposing area between the abutment and the stopper while twisting and deforming the support portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the support portion is circular.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a movement restricting surface that is parallel to and opposite to the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece relative to the support portion.

4. The retaining portion has a release extension that extends from the base end of the arm-shaped locking piece in the direction opposite to the abutment portion, The second housing has a retaining release portion that can interfere with the release extension portion when the second housing and the power-enhancing functional member are fitted together, The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, while the abutment portion is facing the stopper, the holding release portion interferes with the release extension portion, causing the holding portion to tilt and the abutment portion to be displaced to a position not facing the stopper.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the distance from the support portion to the interference position between the release portion and the retaining release portion in the release extension portion is smaller than the distance from the support portion to the abutment portion.

6. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the other member has a tilting restricting surface formed on the opposite side of the direction of displacement of the abutment portion due to interference between the holding release portion and the release extension portion.

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