connector

Abstract

To surely generate a fitting sound by an elastic recovery of a lock arm.SOLUTION: A connector comprises: a male side housing 41 including a hood part 43; a female side housing 11; and a lock arm 20 that is formed in the female side housing 11, and can be elastically deformed. The lock arm 20 includes a pair of lock parts 27 arranged in a width direction. In a fitting process of both of the housings 11 and 41, the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed by an interference between the lock part 27 and the hood part 43. When both of the housings 11 and 41 achieve a normal fitting state, the lock arm 20 locks both of the housings 11 and 41 to a fitting state by the elastic recover. In the lock arm 20 and the hood part 43, collision surfaces 31 and 46 generating a fitting sound by collision when the lock arm 20 elastically recovers are formed. The collision surfaces 31 and 46 are arranged only at one place including a region between the pair of lock parts 27 in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector that locks a connector housing having a second locking portion in a mated state with a mating connector housing by fitting the high projection portion of the second locking portion into the fitting hole of the mating connector housing. In the process of fitting the connector housing and the mating connector housing, the second locking portion is elastically deformed by the contact between the high projection portion and the mating connector housing. When the connector housing and the mating connector housing are mated, the second locking portion strikes the mating connector housing by its elastic restoring force, and a fitting sound is generated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above connector, as a means for enhancing the locking function by the second locking portion, it is conceivable to form two high projection portions in the width direction on one second locking portion. The portion of the second locking portion that strikes the mating connector housing is at the same position as the high projection portion in the width direction. Therefore, when two high projection portions are formed, two striking portions will be arranged in the width direction. In this case, if the second locking portion tilts during the process of fitting the connector housing and the mating connector housing, the timing of the generation of the fitting sound at the two striking portions will be shifted, and the fitting sound will become small.

[0005] The connector described herein is completed based on the circumstances described above and aims to reliably generate a mating sound due to the elastic return of the lock arm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector disclosed herein is A male housing having a hood section, A female housing that fits with the male housing, The female housing is formed with an elastically deformable locking arm, The lock arm has a pair of locking portions arranged in a width direction that intersects the fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing, During the fitting process between the male housing and the female housing, the lock arm undergoes elastic deformation due to interference between the locking portion and the hood portion. When the male housing and the female housing reach the normal mating state, the lock arm elastically returns to its original position and locks the male housing and the female housing into the mating state. The lock arm and the hood portion are formed with a collision surface that produces a fitting sound when the lock arm returns to its elastic position. The collision surface is located in only one place in the width direction, including the region between the pair of locking parts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to reliably generate a fitting sound due to the elastic return of the lock arm. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the female connector, seen from diagonally above and in front. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the male connector, seen from a diagonal downward and forward angle. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the locking portion cut perpendicular to the width direction during the mating process of both connectors. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the collision surface, cut perpendicular to the width direction, during the mating process of both connectors. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the locking portion cut perpendicular to the width direction, with both connectors in the properly mated state. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view taken perpendicular to the width direction of the collision surface when both connectors are properly mated. [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 male housing having a hood portion, a female housing that fits with the male housing, and an elastically deformable lock arm formed on the female housing, wherein the lock arm has a pair of lock portions arranged in the width direction intersecting the fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing, and during the fitting process of the male housing and the female housing, the lock arm is elastically deformed by the interference of the lock portions and the hood portion, and when the male housing and the female housing reach a properly fitted state, the lock arm elastically returns to its original position and locks the male housing and the female housing into the fitted state, and the lock arm and the hood portion have collision surfaces that produce a fitting sound when the lock arm elastically returns to its original position, and the collision surface is located in only one place in the width direction, including the area between the pair of lock portions. According to the configuration of this disclosure, since the collision surface is located in only one place, including the region between the pair of locking parts, even if the male housing and female housing are mated with the locking arm tilted, a mating sound can be reliably generated as when the locking arm is not tilted.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the collision surface has a shape that protrudes in a stepped manner from the region adjacent to the collision surface. With this configuration, only the collision surface can be reliably brought into contact with the object.

[0011] (3) Preferably, the female housing and the hood portion are formed with a restricting portion that restricts the deformation of the hood portion in a direction away from the lock arm. With this configuration, the collision energy when the collision surfaces collide is not attenuated, so a loud fitting noise can be generated.

[0012] (4) The lock arm has a cantilevered shape extending from a base end connected to the female housing toward the rear in the direction of fitting with the male housing, and preferably a projection extending from the base end to the impact surface is formed on the outer surface of the lock arm where the impact surface is formed. With this configuration, the region of the lock arm from the impact surface to the base end has a large thickness and high rigidity due to the projection. As a result, the elastic restoring force when the lock arm is elastically deformed is large, and a loud fitting sound can be generated.

[0013] (5) Preferably, the lock arm has a cantilevered shape extending from a base end connected to the female housing toward the rear in the fitting direction toward the male housing, and reinforcing ribs are formed on both side edges of the lock arm, projecting in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm and extending from the base end toward the rear in the fitting direction. With this configuration, the rigidity of the lock arm is increased by the reinforcing ribs, so that the elastic restoring force when the lock arm is elastically deformed is large and a loud fitting sound can be generated.

[0014] In (6)(5), it is preferable that the reinforcing rib extends to the same region as the area where the collision surface is formed in the fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing. With this configuration, the rigidity of the region of the lock arm where the collision surface is formed is increased by the reinforcing rib, so that the collision energy when the collision surfaces collide is not attenuated and a loud fitting sound can be generated.

[0015] (7) In (1) to (3), the lock arm has a shape that extends in a cantilever manner rearward in the fitting direction with respect to the male housing from the base end portion continuous with the female housing. On the outer surface of the lock arm where the collision surface is formed, a protrusion extending from the base end portion to the collision surface is formed. On both side edges of the lock arm, a pair of reinforcing ribs are formed that protrude in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm and extend rearward in the fitting direction from the base end portion. In the hood portion, a pair of protruding receiving portions that engage with the pair of locking portions are formed. It is preferable that a pair of guide grooves for guiding the receiving portion are formed between the protrusion and the pair of reinforcing ribs during the fitting process of the male housing and the female housing. According to this configuration, the rigidity of the lock arm can be increased to generate a large fitting sound, and by guiding the receiving portion by the guide grooves, the inclination during the fitting process of the male housing and the female housing can be prevented.

[0016] (8) It is preferable that widened portions protruding from the same region as the formation range of the collision surface in the fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing are formed on both outer surfaces of the lock arm. According to this configuration, the region of the lock arm where the collision surface is formed has its rigidity increased by the widened portions, so the collision energy when the collision surfaces collide is not attenuated, and a large fitting sound can be generated.

[0017] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] [Example 1] Example 1 embodying the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is intended to be indicated by the claims and to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0018] The connector of this embodiment 1 has a female connector 10 and a male connector 40 that can be mated and unmated with each other. The mating and unmating directions of both connectors 10 and 40 are in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment 1, the front-to-back direction is defined as the positive direction of the X-axis in Figures 1 to 6. The mating and unmating directions of both connectors 10 and 40 and the front-to-back direction are used synonymously. The up-and-down direction is defined as the positive direction of the Z-axis in Figures 1 to 6. The up-and-down direction is the direction that intersects with the mating direction of the male connector 40 and the female connector 10. The up-and-down direction and the height direction are used synonymously. The left-to-right direction is defined as the positive direction of the Y-axis in Figures 1 and 2. The left-to-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously. The width direction is the direction that intersects with the mating direction of the male connector 40 and the female connector 10.

[0019] <Female connector 10> The female connector 10 is constructed by assembling a female housing 11 made of synthetic resin and a plurality of female terminal fittings 15. As shown in Figure 1, the female housing 11 is a single component with a symmetrical shape. The female housing 11 has a housing body portion 12 and a lock arm 20 integrally formed with the housing body portion 12.

[0020] The housing body 12 has a flattened rectangular shape overall. The width dimension of the housing body 12 is greater than the length dimension in the front-to-back direction, and the height dimension is smaller than the width and length dimensions. As shown in Figures 3 to 6, a plurality of terminal housing chambers 13 are formed inside the housing body 12, penetrating the housing body 12 in the front-to-back direction, and are arranged at a constant pitch in the width direction. A female terminal fitting 15 fixed to the front end of an electric wire 14 is inserted into each terminal housing chamber 13.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, a pair of symmetrical female restricting portions 17 are formed on the outer wall surface 16 (upper surface) of the housing body portion 12. The pair of female restricting portions 17 are spaced apart in the left-right direction. The female restricting portions 17 extend in a long, slender, straight line in the front-rear direction. In a front view of the female housing 11, the female restricting portion 17 has an L-shaped bend. In detail, the female restricting portion 17 has a long, slender rising portion 18 in the front-rear direction and a long, slender female locking portion 19 in the front-rear direction. The rising portion 18 protrudes upward in a rib-like manner from the outer wall surface 16 of the housing body portion 12. The female locking portion 19 protrudes in a rib-like manner from the upper edge of the rising portion 18 toward the center in the width direction of the housing body portion 12.

[0022] The lock arm 20 is positioned in the center of the female housing 11 in the width direction. The lock arm 20 is located between a pair of female restricting portions 17 in the width direction. The width dimension of the lock arm 20 is set to approximately 1 / 3 of the width dimension of the female housing 11 (housing body portion 12). The lock arm 20 has a base portion 21, an arm body portion 22, and an operating portion 23.

[0023] The base end portion 21 constitutes the front end of the lock arm 20 and is connected to the front end of the outer wall surface 16 (upper surface) of the housing body portion 12. The arm body portion 22 is flat overall and extends cantilevered backward from the base end portion 21 along the outer wall surface 16 of the housing body portion 12. The arm body portion 22 is positioned to cover the outer wall surface 16 (upper surface) of the housing body portion 12 from above. The operating portion 23 protrudes upward from the rear end of the outer surface 26 (upper surface) of the arm body portion 22. The outer surface 26 of the arm body portion 22 (lock arm 20) is the surface opposite to the inner surface facing the outer wall surface 16 of the female housing 11 in the direction of elastic deformation (vertical direction) of the lock arm 20.

[0024] The lock arm 20 normally maintains a locked position (see Figures 1, 5, and 6) where the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22 is parallel to the outer wall surface 16 of the female housing 11. When a downward external force is applied to the lock arm 20, the lock arm 20 can elastically deform to an unlocked position (see Figures 3 and 4) where the arm body 22 moves closer to the outer wall surface 16 of the female housing 11, using the base end 21 as a pivot point. The lock arm 20 can be elastically deformed from the locked position to the unlocked position by pressing the operating part 23.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, a pair of symmetrical locking parts 27 are formed on the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22, spaced apart in the width direction. The positions of both locking parts 27 in the front-rear direction are behind the center of the arm body 22 and in front of the front end of the operating part 23. The locking parts 27 protrude upward from the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22. The front surface of the locking part 27 is a plane inclined with respect to the mating and unmatting directions of both connectors 10 and 40, and functions as a guide surface 28. The rear surface of the locking part 27 is a plane perpendicular to the mating and unmatting directions, and functions as a locking surface 29.

[0026] The arm body 22 has a base 30. The front end of the base 30 is connected to the rear end of a projection 32, which will be described later. The rear end of the base 30 is connected to the front end of the operating part 23. The entire upper surface area of ​​the base 30 functions as a female impact surface 31, which is a plane parallel to the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22. There is only one female impact surface 31 formed on a single lock arm 20. In a top view of the lock arm 20, the base 30 and the female impact surface 31 form a rectangle whose width is greater than its front-to-back dimension. The female impact surface 31 is located in the center of the arm body 22 in the width direction. The area where the female impact surface 31 is formed in the front-to-back direction is the area behind the center of the arm body 22.

[0027] In detail, the front end of the female impact surface 31 is positioned at the same location as the lock surface 29 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the female impact surface 31 is positioned at the same location as the front end of the operating section 23 in the front-rear direction. The entire female impact surface 31 is located behind the rear end of the lock section 27. The width dimension of the female impact surface 31 is the same as, or slightly larger than, the distance between the pair of lock sections 27. The protrusion height of the female impact surface 31 from the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22 is slightly greater than the protrusion height of the lock section 27 from the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22.

[0028] A slender projection 32 is formed in the center of the width direction of the outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20. The projection 32 is formed continuously from the front end of the base portion 21 to the front end of the pedestal portion 30. The width dimension of the projection 32 is the same as, or slightly smaller than, the width dimension of the female impact surface 31. The width dimension of the projection 32 is constant along its entire length and is the same as the distance between the pair of lock portions 27. The rear end of the projection 32 is connected to the lock portion 27. The projection height of the projection 32 from the outer surface 26 of the arm body portion 22 is the same as the height of the lock portion 27.

[0029] The lock arm 20 has a pair of symmetrical reinforcing ribs 33. The pair of reinforcing ribs 33 protrude upward from the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22 and extend in an elongated shape in the front-rear direction along both left and right edges of the lock arm 20. The area where the reinforcing ribs 33 are formed in the front-rear direction is the region from the front end of the base end 21 to the front end of the operating part 23 and the rear end of the female impact surface 31. In the front-rear direction, the area where the reinforcing ribs 33 are formed includes the entire area where the female impact surface 31 is formed. The protrusion height of the reinforcing ribs 33 from the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22 is the same as the protrusion height of the lock part 27 and the projection 32. The reinforcing ribs 33 are connected to the lock part 27.

[0030] A pair of symmetrical guide grooves 34 are formed on the outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20. The left and right side edges of the guide grooves 34 are demarcated by protrusions 32 and reinforcing ribs 33. The front end of the guide grooves 34 is open to the front end surface of the lock arm 20. A pair of symmetrical locking recesses 35 are formed on the outer surface 26 of the arm body portion 22. The pair of locking recesses 35 are demarcated by the left and right side surfaces of the base portion 30, the rear surface (locking surface 29) of the lock portion 27, and the inner surface of the reinforcing rib 33.

[0031] A widened portion 36 is formed at the rear end of the lock arm 20. The widened portion 36 is formed by creating an overhang 37 on the outer surface of the reinforcing rib 33 (the side opposite to the lock recess 35 in the width direction). The formation range of the widened portion 36 in the front-rear direction is the region from the front end of the lock portion 27 to the front end of the operating portion 23. In the front-rear direction, the forming range of the widened portion 36 includes the entire female impact surface 31. The width dimension of the widened portion 36 of the lock arm 20 is greater than the width dimension of the region of the lock arm 20 in front of the widened portion 36.

[0032] <Male connector 40> The male connector 40 is constructed by assembling a male housing 41 made of synthetic resin with a plurality of male terminal fittings 50. The male connector 40 functions as a board connector mounted on a circuit board (not shown).

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the male housing 41 is a single component having a wall-shaped terminal holding portion 42 and a hood portion 43 that protrudes in a flat, rectangular shape from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal holding portion 42 toward the female connector 10. The upper wall portion 44 that constitutes the hood portion 43 has a pair of symmetrical receiving portions 45 formed thereon. The pair of receiving portions 45 protrude downward from the inner surface (bottom surface) of the upper wall portion 44 and are positioned to face the open end of the hood portion 43. In the width direction, the pair of receiving portions 45 are positioned at the same location as the pair of locking portions 27.

[0034] A male collision surface 46 is formed on the inner surface (bottom surface) of the upper wall portion 44. There is only one male collision surface 46 formed on each hood portion 43. In a bottom view of the female housing 11 seen from below, the area where the male collision surface 46 is formed is a rectangular region that contacts the female collision surface 31 when both connectors 10 and 40 are properly mated. The planar region between the pair of receiving portions 45 on the inner surface of the upper wall portion 44 functions as the male collision surface 46. In Figure 2, for clarity, the boundary between the male collision surface 46 and the region adjacent to the male collision surface 46 is shown with a dashed line, but in reality, the male collision surface 46 and the region adjacent to the male collision surface 46 are continuous and flush with the surface.

[0035] A pair of symmetrical male restricting portions 47 are formed on the inner surface of the upper wall portion 44 of the hood portion 43. The pair of male restricting portions 47 are spaced apart in the left-right direction. The male restricting portions 47 extend in a long, slender, straight line in the front-rear direction. In a front view of the hood portion 43 from the female connector 10 side, the male restricting portions 47 have an L-shaped bend. In detail, the male restricting portion 47 has a long, slender leg portion 48 in the front-rear direction and a long, slender male locking portion 49 in the front-rear direction. The leg portion 48 protrudes downward in a rib-like manner from the upper wall portion 44 of the hood portion 43. The male locking portion 49 protrudes outward in the width direction of the hood portion 43 from the lower end edge of the leg portion 48 in a rib-like manner.

[0036] The male terminal fitting 50 is formed by bending a long, slender metal rod. The male terminal fitting 50 has a terminal connection portion 51 that extends in the front-to-back direction and an L-shaped bent circuit board connection portion 52. The terminal connection portion 51 penetrates the terminal holding portion 42 in the front-to-back direction. The tab at the tip of the terminal connection portion 51 is located within the hood portion 43. The circuit board connection portion 52 extends downward from the base end of the terminal connection portion 51 outside the male housing 41 (hood portion 43). The circuit board connection portion 52 is connected to a circuit board.

[0037] <Operation of the connector in Example 1> When mating the female housing 11 of the male connector 40 with the female housing 11 of the female connector 10, the female housing 11 is inserted into the hood portion 43. When mating of both connectors 10 and 40 begins, the pair of female restricting portions 17 and the pair of male restricting portions 47 engage, and the pair of receiving portions 45 enter the guide groove 34. The pair of male restricting portions 47 enter the groove portion 39 between the lock arm 20 and the pair of female restricting portions 17.

[0038] As the mating of both connectors 10 and 40 progresses to just before the normal mating state, as shown in Figure 3, the locking portion 27 and the receiving portion 45 interfere with each other, and the lock arm 20 elastically deforms so that it approaches the outer wall surface 16 of the arm body portion 22. When the lock arm 20 elastically deforms, as shown in Figure 4, the female collision surface 31 is displaced to a position that is significantly separated downward from the male collision surface 46. In the state where the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed, the upper wall portion 44 of the hood portion 43 is pressed upward by the elastic restoring force of the lock arm 20. However, since the male locking portion 49 of the male restricting portion 47 abuts against the female locking portion 19 of the female restricting portion 17 from below, the upper wall portion 44 is not displaced upward.

[0039] When both connectors 10 and 40 reach the proper mating state, as shown in Figure 5, the locking portion 27 passes through the receiving portion 45, and the locking arm 20 elastically returns from the unlocked position to the locked position by the elastic restoring force of the locking arm 20. As a result, the locking surface 29 of the locking portion 27 engages with the receiving portion 45 from the front, preventing the female connector 10 from detaching from the male connector 40 to the rear. The receiving portion 45 is housed in the locking recess 35. Thus, both connectors 10 and 40 are locked in the proper mating state by the locking arm 20.

[0040] When both connectors 10 and 40 reach the proper mating state and the locking part 27 disengages from the receiving part 45, the locking arm 20 elastically returns to its upward position with force. As the locking arm 20 elastically returns all at once, the female impact surface 31 collides with the male impact surface 46 from below, generating a mating sound (collision sound). When the female impact surface 31 collides with the male impact surface 46, the locking action of the locking parts 19 and 49 of both restricting parts 17 and 47 holds the male impact surface 46 in place, preventing it from moving upward. Therefore, the collision energy of the female impact surface 31 with respect to the male impact surface 46 is not attenuated, resulting in a loud mating sound.

[0041] <Effects of Example 1> The connector of Embodiment 1 comprises a male housing 41 having a hood portion 43 and a female housing 11 that mates with the hood portion 43 of the male housing 41. The female housing 11 has an elastically deformable lock arm 20 formed thereon. The lock arm 20 has a pair of lock portions 27 aligned in the width direction. During the mating process of the two housings 11 and 41, the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed by interference between the lock portions 27 and the receiving portion 45 of the hood portion 43. When the two housings 11 and 41 reach the properly mated state, the lock arm 20 elastically returns to its original position and locks the two housings 11 and 41 into the mated state.

[0042] The lock arm 20 and the hood portion 43 have a female impact surface 31 and a male impact surface 46 formed thereon, which collide when the lock arm 20 elastically returns to its original position, producing a fitting sound. The female impact surface 31 is located in only one place in the width direction, including the region between the pair of lock portions 27. The male impact surface 46 is also located in only one place, including the region between the pair of receiving portions 45 (the region between the pair of lock portions 27). Because the female impact surface 31 is located in only one place, including the region between the pair of lock portions 27, even if the two housings 11 and 41 are fitted together with the lock arm 20 tilted, a fitting sound can be reliably produced, just as when the lock arm 20 is not tilted.

[0043] The female impact surface 31 has a stepped shape that protrudes from the area adjacent to the female impact surface 31 (the upper surface of the locking portion 27 and the upper surface of the projection 32). With this configuration, only the female impact surface 31 can be reliably impacted against the male impact surface 46.

[0044] The female housing 11 and the hood portion 43 are formed with a female restricting portion 17 and a male restricting portion 47 that restrict the deformation of the hood portion 43 in a direction away from the lock arm 20 (female impact surface 31). With this configuration, the collision energy when the female impact surface 31 and the male impact surface 46 collide is not attenuated, so a loud mating noise can be generated.

[0045] The lock arm 20 has a cantilevered shape that extends from a base end 21 connected to the female housing 11 toward the rear in the direction of mating with the male housing 41. On the outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20, where the female impact surface 31 is formed, a projection 32 is formed that extends from the base end 21 to the female impact surface 31. With this configuration, the region of the lock arm 20 from the female impact surface 31 to the base end 21 has a large thickness and high rigidity due to the projection 32. As a result, the elastic restoring force when the lock arm 20 elastically deforms is large, and a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0046] Reinforcing ribs 33 are formed on both side edges of the lock arm 20, protruding in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm 20 and extending from the base end 21 toward the rear in the fitting direction. With this configuration, the rigidity of the lock arm 20 is increased by the reinforcing ribs 33, so the elastic restoring force when the lock arm 20 elastically deforms is large, and a loud fitting sound can be generated.

[0047] The reinforcing rib 33 extends to the same region as the formation range of the female impact surface 31 in the mating direction of both housings 11 and 41. With this configuration, the rigidity of the region of the lock arm 20 where the female impact surface 31 is formed is increased by the reinforcing rib 33. As a result, the collision energy when the female impact surface 31 and the male impact surface 46 collide is not attenuated, and a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0048] The hood portion 43 has a pair of projection-shaped receiving portions 45 that engage with a pair of locking portions 27. Between the projection 32 and the pair of reinforcing ribs 33 on the outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20, a pair of guide grooves 34 are formed to guide the receiving portions 45 during the fitting process of the two housings 11 and 41. This configuration increases the rigidity of the lock arm 20 and makes it possible to generate a loud fitting sound. In addition, by guiding the receiving portions 45 with the guide grooves 34, tilting (prying) in the left-right direction during the fitting process of the male housing 41 and the female housing 11 can be prevented.

[0049] On both outer surfaces (reinforcement ribs 33) of the lock arm 20, widened portions 36 are formed that protrude from the same area as the formation range of the female impact surface 31 in the fitting direction (front-rear direction) of both housings 11 and 41. With this configuration, the rigidity of the area of ​​the lock arm 20 in which the female impact surface 31 is formed is increased by the widened portions 36. As a result, the collision energy when the female impact surface 31 and the male impact surface 46 collide is not attenuated, and a loud fitting noise can be generated.

[0050] The reinforcing rib 33 is formed in the same region as the formation range of the locking portion 27 and the female impact surface 31 in the mating direction of both connectors 10 and 40. Furthermore, in the front-rear direction, the region of the reinforcing rib 33 that is the same as the formation range of the locking portion 27 and the female impact surface 31 has a wider dimension due to the widening portion 36, resulting in high rigidity. Therefore, the attenuation of impact energy during collision between the female impact surface 31 and the male impact surface 46 can be suppressed.

[0051] [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 to the claims and all modifications within the claims, and is intended to include embodiments such as those described below. The width dimension of the collision surface may be smaller than the distance between the pair of locking parts, or it may be larger than the distance between the pair of locking parts. In the mating direction of the male housing and the female housing, at least a portion of the collision surface of the lock arm may be positioned in a region that overlaps with the locking portion, or the entire collision surface of the lock arm may be positioned only in a region closer to the base end than the locking portion. The shape that causes the collision surface to protrude in a stepped manner relative to the area adjacent to the collision surface may be applied only to the collision surface of the hood, or it may be applied to both the lock arm and the hood. The lock arm may have a shape that does not have a protrusion extending from its base end to the impact surface. The position of the rear end of the reinforcing rib in the mating direction of the male and female housings may be forward (towards the base end) of the rear end of the impact surface. The lock arm may have a shape that does not include reinforcing ribs. The lock arm may have a shape that does not have a guide groove. The lock arm may have a shape that does not include a widened section. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 10…Female connector 11…Female housing 12…Main housing section 13…Terminal housing room 14...Electric wire 15…Female terminal fittings 16…Exterior wall surface 17…Female side regulating section (regulating section) 18... part 19...Female locking part 20... Lock Arm 21...Proximal end 22...Arm body 23...Operation unit 26…External surface 27... Rock Club 28…Guiding surface 29... Lock side 30... Base 31…Female side collision surface (collision surface) 32… protrusion 33…Reinforcement ribs 34… Guide groove 35… Locking recess 36... Widening section 37...Protruding part 39… Groove 40…Male connector 41...Male housing 42...Terminal holding part 43…Food Department 44...Top wall part 45...receiving part 46…Male side collision surface (collision surface) 47...Male side regulating section (regulating section) 48...legs 49...Male locking part 50...Male terminal fittings 51…Terminal connection section 52... Circuit board connection section

Claims

1. A male housing having a hood section, A female housing that fits with the male housing, The female housing is formed with an elastically deformable locking arm, The lock arm has a cantilevered shape that extends from its base end, which is connected to the female housing, to the rear in the direction of fitting with the male housing. The lock arm has a pair of locking portions arranged in a width direction that intersects the fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing, During the fitting process between the male housing and the female housing, the lock arm undergoes elastic deformation due to interference between the locking portion and the hood portion. When the male housing and the female housing reach the normal mating state, the lock arm elastically returns to its original position and locks the male housing and the female housing into the mating state. The lock arm and the hood portion are formed with a collision surface that produces a fitting sound when the lock arm returns to its elastic position. The collision surface is located in only one place in the width direction, including the region between the pair of locking parts. A pair of reinforcing ribs are formed on both side edges of the lock arm, projecting in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm and extending elongated in the direction of fitting between the male housing and the female housing. A projection is formed on the outer surface of the lock arm on which the collision surface is formed, extending from the base end to the collision surface. A connector in which the pair of locking parts are connected to the pair of reinforcing ribs and the protrusions.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the collision surface has a stepped shape that protrudes from the region adjacent to the collision surface.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the female housing and the hood portion are formed with restricting portions that restrict the deformation of the hood portion in a direction away from the lock arm.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reinforcing rib extends from the base end toward the rear in the fitting direction.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing rib extends to the same region as the area where the collision surface is formed in the mating direction of the male housing and the female housing.

6. The hood portion is formed with a pair of protruding receiving portions that engage with the pair of locking portions, The pair of reinforcing ribs extend from the base end toward the rear in the fitting direction, The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a pair of guide grooves are formed between the protrusion and the pair of reinforcing ribs to guide the receiving portion during the fitting process of the male housing and the female housing.

7. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein widened portions are formed on both outer surfaces of the lock arm, protruding from the same region as the collision surface formation range in the fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing.

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