connector

Abstract

To enhance force for keeping a fitted condition of a connector.SOLUTION: A fitting cylinder part 78 of a first housing 18 has: an upper wall 78A covering a second housing 22; a pair of ribs 78B which protrude inward from the upper wall 78A and faces each other in the right-and-left direction; and a lock part 78C which protrudes inward from the upper wall 78A and is disposed between the ribs 78B. The second housing 22 has a lock arm 51 disposed between the ribs 78B. The lock arm 51 has: an arm body 51A; and a lock protrusion 51B which protrudes from the arm body 51A and is locked to the lock part 78C. A dimension of the lock protrusion 51B in the right-and-left direction is smaller than that of the arm body 51A in the right-and-left direction. The first housing 18 has a reinforcement part 78D which is disposed at a position outside the right-and-left direction of the lock protrusion 51B and also overlapping the arm body 51A in the right-and-left direction. The reinforcement part 78D is protrudingly provided from the upper wall 78A to the ribs 78B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , , , , , ,

[0005]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a male housing and a female housing that can be fitted to each other. The male housing and the female housing are held in a fitted state by the engagement between the locking protrusion of the male housing and the locking portion of the female housing. A configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also known for this type of connector.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] <000,0027>When a force is applied in a direction separating the fitted housings in a state where the locking protrusion and the locking portion are locked, Locking The protrusion and the locking portion stop Press against each other. As a result, the locking chamber provided with the locking portion may bend outward, and the locking between the locking protrusion and the locking portion may be disengaged.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and aims to enhance the force for maintaining the fitted state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a first housing and a second housing, The first housing has a fitting cylindrical portion into which the second housing can be fitted, The fitting cylinder portion includes a covering wall that covers the second housing from the outside, a pair of ribs that protrude inward from the covering wall and face each other in the width direction intersecting the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing, and a locking portion that protrudes inward from the covering wall and is positioned between each of the ribs. The second housing has a locking arm positioned between each of the ribs when fitted with the first housing, The lock arm comprises an elastically deformable arm body and a lock projection that protrudes from the arm body and engages with the locking portion. The widthwise dimension of the locking projection is smaller than the widthwise dimension of the arm body. The first housing, when fitted with the second housing, has a reinforcing portion positioned on the outside of the lock projection in the width direction and overlapping with the arm body in the width direction, The reinforcing portion is provided to protrude from the covering wall across the rib. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the force that maintains the mated state of the connector can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector of Example 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fitting cylinder portion of the first housing, seen from the front. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged rear view of the main parts of the first housing, seen from the rear. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the lock arm of the second housing. [Figure 6]Figure 6 is a magnified side cross-sectional view showing the locked state of the locking mechanism and the locking arm. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 1. [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 system comprises a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has a fitting cylindrical portion into which the second housing can be fitted. The fitting cylindrical portion has a covering wall that covers the second housing from the outside, a pair of ribs projecting inward from the covering wall and facing each other in the width direction intersecting the fitting direction of the first and second housings, and a locking portion projecting inward from the covering wall and positioned between each rib. The second housing has a locking arm positioned between each rib when fitted with the first housing. The locking arm has an elastically deformable arm body and a locking projection projecting from the arm body and engaging with the locking portion. The width dimension of the locking projection is smaller than the width dimension of the arm body. The first housing has a reinforcing portion positioned outside the width direction of the locking projection and overlapping with the arm body in the width direction when fitted with the second housing. The reinforcing portion projects from the covering wall across the ribs. With this configuration, the covering wall is reinforced by being connected to the rib by the reinforcing part, so even if a force is applied in the direction of separating the first housing and the second housing while the locking projection and the locking part are engaged, the covering wall will not bend easily. As a result, the deformation of the locking projection and the locking part is restricted, making it difficult for the lock to come undone.

[0010] (2) The reinforcing portion extends in the fitting direction, and it is preferable that the front end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is connected to the locking portion. By connecting the front end of the reinforcing portion to the locking portion, the covering wall can be made less prone to bending.

[0011] (3) In (2), it is preferable that the rear end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is located in front of the rear end of the covering wall. The length dimension of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is , must It can be minimized, thus enhancing the formability.

[0012] (4) In (2) or (3), it is preferable that a top surface extending in the fitting direction and intersecting with the locking surface facing the locking portion is formed at the tip of the locking projection in the protruding direction. The top surface is preferably arranged at a position included within the formation range of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction in the fitted state of the first housing and the second housing. According to this configuration, in the covering wall, the reinforcing portion is provided corresponding to the range pressed by the locking projection, so that the deflection of the covering wall can be effectively suppressed. Here, the range within the formation range of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is the range where the reinforcing portion is arranged in the fitting direction.

[0013] [Details of the Embodiment of the Present Disclosure] <Embodiment 1> Embodiment 1 in which the connector 10 of the present disclosure is embodied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. In the figures, "front side", "rear side", "upper side", "lower side", "right side", and "left side" are represented by "F", "B", "U", "D", "R", and "L", respectively. In Embodiment 1, the left - right direction corresponds to the width direction. The front side "F" in the figures is the side facing the second housing 22 in the first housing 18. In the description of the second housing 22, the front side is described as the surface side facing the first housing 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 of Embodiment 1 includes a first housing 18 and a second housing 22 which are housings that can be fitted to each other. The first housing 18 and the second housing 22 can be fitted in the front - rear direction. That is, the front - rear direction corresponds to the fitting direction.

[0014] <The First Housing> The first housing 18 is made of synthetic resin and has a first terminal accommodating portion 75 penetrating in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 1. On the upper surface of the rear inner wall of the first terminal accommodating portion 75, an elastically deformable first lance 76 is formed to project forward in a cantilevered manner. The male terminal M is accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion 75. When the male terminal M is accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion 75, the first lance 76 is locked to the locked portion L1 on the male terminal M. The front portion of the first housing 18 is formed as a fitting cylinder portion 78 having an outer shape larger than that of the rear portion. The fitting cylinder portion 78 has an upper wall 78A which is a covering wall, left and right side walls 78E which are covering walls, and a lower wall 78F which is a covering wall, and is formed in a square cylinder shape by the upper wall 78A, the left and right side walls 78E, and the lower wall 78F (see FIG. 2).

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of ribs 78B are provided to project inwardly on the upper wall 78A of the fitting cylinder portion 78. These ribs 78B hang down from the lower surface of the upper wall 78A and are formed to extend in the front-rear direction. These ribs 78B are spaced apart in the left-right direction. In other words, these ribs 78B face each other in the left-right direction (width direction) intersecting the fitting direction of the first housing 18 and the second housing 22.

[0016] A lock portion 78C is disposed between the pair of ribs 78B. The lock portion 78C projects downward (inwardly) from the lower surface of the upper wall 78A. Each of the left and right ends in the left-right direction of the lock portion 78C is connected to each rib 78B.

[0017] A pair of reinforcing portions 78D are provided on the upper wall 78A of the fitting cylinder portion 78. These reinforcing portions 78D are provided one by one on the opposing surfaces of the pair of ribs 78B. In other words, each reinforcing portion 78D projects from the upper wall 78A to the rib 78B so as to connect the upper wall 78A and the rib 78B. Specifically, the reinforcing portion 78D is formed to extend in the front-rear direction (fitting direction), and projects inwardly in the left-right direction along the portion where the rib 78B and the upper wall 78A are connected. The front end of each reinforcing portion 78D in the front-rear direction (fitting direction) is continuous with the lock portion 78C.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3, when the first housing 18 is viewed from the rear, each reinforcing portion 78D has a rectangular shape. The lower surface of each reinforcing portion 78D is flush with the lower surface of the locking portion 78C. As shown in Figure 4, the rear end of each reinforcing portion 78D is inclined outward in the left-right direction toward each rib 78B. In the front-rear direction (fitting direction), the rear end of each reinforcing portion 78D is located in front of the rear end of the fitting cylinder portion 78. The second housing 22 is fitted into the fitting cylinder portion 78.

[0019] <Second Housing> The second housing 22 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in Figure 1, has a second terminal housing portion 47 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. A second lance 48 is formed on the upper surface of the rear inner wall of the second terminal housing portion 47, projecting forward in a cantilevered manner. The second lance 48 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction.

[0020] A female terminal F is housed in the second terminal housing 47. When the female terminal F is housed in the second terminal housing 47, the second lance 48 is locked to the locking portion L2 formed on the female terminal F. A lock arm 51 capable of locking the first housing 18 is formed on the upper wall of the second housing 22. The lock arm 51 has an arm body 51A extending in the front-rear direction and a lock projection 51B protruding from the center of the upper surface of the arm body 51A in the width direction.

[0021] The arm body 51A has width in the left-right direction and is flat in shape, extending in the front-rear direction. At the tip (upper end) of the protruding lock projection 51B, a top surface 51C is formed that extends in the front-rear direction (fitting direction). An inclined surface 51D is attached to the front end of the top surface 51C, sloping downward and forward. A lock surface 51F hangs down from the rear end of the top surface 51C. The top surface 51C intersects with the lock surface 51F. Behind the lock projection 51B, a finger-press portion 51E is provided, spaced apart from the lock projection 51B in a rearward direction. The finger-press portion 51E protrudes upward from the arm body 51A.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, the width dimension (left-right direction) of the locking projection 51B is smaller than the width dimension (left-right direction) of the arm body 51A. In other words, the end face of the locking projection 51B in the left-right direction is located closer to the center in the left-right direction than the end face of the arm body 51A in the left-right direction.

[0023] <Connector assembly procedure and mating structure> The male terminal M is inserted from the rear into the first terminal housing 75 of the first housing 18. The male terminal M is secured in the first terminal housing 75 of the first housing 18 by locking the locking portion L1 to the first lance 76 (see Figure 1).

[0024] The female terminal F is inserted from the rear into the second terminal housing 47 of the second housing 22. The female terminal F is secured in the second terminal housing 47 of the second housing 22 by locking the locking portion L2 to the second lance 48 (see Figure 1).

[0025] The first housing 18 and the second housing 22 are fitted together from a position facing each other. Specifically, the front end of the second housing 22 is fitted into the fitting cylinder portion 78 of the first housing 18. As fitting progresses, the locking projection 51B of the second housing 22 contacts the locking portion 78C of the first housing 18, and the arm body 51A elastically deforms downward. When the locking projection 51B passes the locking portion 78C, the arm body 51A elastically returns to its original position, and the locking surface 51F faces the locking portion 78C from the front-to-back direction. The locking projection 51B locks into the locking portion 78C from the fitting direction (see Figure 6). This holds the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 in a fitted state. In the fitted state, the female terminal F and the male terminal M are fitted together. At this time, the fitting cylinder portion 78 covers the second housing 22 from the outside.

[0026] As shown in Figure 6, the dimension of the reinforcing portion 78D is larger than the dimension of the top surface 51C of the locking projection 51B in the front-rear direction (fitting direction). In other words, the top surface 51C is included within the formation range of the reinforcing portion 78D in the front-rear direction (fitting direction). In the front-rear direction (fitting direction), the dimensions of the locking projection 51B and the dimensions of the reinforcing portion 78D are approximately the same.

[0027] As shown in Figure 7, when the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 are fitted together, the lock arm 51 is positioned between a pair of ribs 78B. Each reinforcing portion 78D is positioned on the outside of the lock projection 51B in the width direction (left-right direction) and overlaps (i.e., overlaps) with the arm body 51A in the width direction (left-right direction) when the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 are fitted together.

[0028] Next, we will illustrate the effects of this configuration. The connector 10 comprises a first housing 18 and a second housing 22. The first housing 18 has a fitting cylindrical portion 78 into which the second housing 22 can be fitted. The fitting cylindrical portion 78 has an upper wall 78A that covers the second housing 22 from the outside, a pair of ribs 78B that protrude inward from the upper wall 78A and are opposed to each other in the left-right direction intersecting with the fitting direction of the first housing 18 and the second housing 22, and a locking portion 78C that protrudes inward from the upper wall 78A and is positioned between the ribs 78B. The second housing 22 has a locking arm 51 that is positioned between the ribs 78B when fitted with the first housing 18. The locking arm 51 has an elastically deformable arm body 51A and a locking projection 51B that protrudes from the arm body 51A and engages with the locking portion 78C. The left-right dimension (width dimension) of the locking projection 51B is smaller than the left-right dimension (width dimension) of the arm body 51A. The first housing 18, when fitted with the second housing 22, has a reinforcing portion 78D positioned on the left and right outer side of the locking projection 51B and overlapping with the arm body 51A in the left and right direction. The reinforcing portion 78D protrudes from the upper wall 78A to the rib 78B, connecting the upper wall 78A and the rib 78B.

[0029] With this configuration, since the upper wall 78A is reinforced by the reinforcing part 78D, even if a force is applied in the direction of separating the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 while the locking projection 51B and the locking part 78C are locked together, the upper wall 78A will not bend easily. This makes it difficult for the locking of the locking projection 51B and the locking part 78C to come undone.

[0030] The reinforcing portion 78D extends in the fitting direction, and its front end in the fitting direction is connected to the locking portion 78C. By connecting the front end of the reinforcing portion 78D to the locking portion 78C, the upper wall 78A can be made less prone to bending.

[0031] The rear end of the reinforcing portion 78D in the fitting direction is located forward of the rear end of the upper wall 78A. The length dimension of the reinforcing portion 78D in the fitting direction is , must By minimizing the dimensions, moldability can be improved.

[0032] The tip of the locking projection 51B in the protruding direction has a top surface 51C that intersects with the locking surface 51F facing the locking portion 78C and extends in the fitting direction. When the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 are fitted together, the top surface 51C is positioned within the formation range of the reinforcing portion 78D in the fitting direction. With this configuration, since the reinforcing portion 78D is provided in the upper wall 78A in a range corresponding to the area pressed by the locking projection 51B, the deflection of the upper wall 78A can be effectively suppressed.

[0033] <Other Embodiments> The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is indicated by the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included.

[0034] Unlike Embodiment 1, the outer shape of the reinforcing portion when viewed from the rear may be such that its width widens upwards towards the center in the left-right direction.

[0035] In Embodiment 1, the rear end of the reinforcing portion is located in front of the rear end of the upper wall, but the rear end of the reinforcing portion may be extended to the rear end of the upper wall.

[0036] Alternatively, the male terminal may be attached to the second housing and the female terminal to the first housing.

[0037] Unlike Embodiment 1, the configuration may include reinforcing sections or ribs on the left and right side walls and the bottom wall. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10… Connectors 18…1st Housing 22...Second Housing 47...Second terminal housing 48... Second Lance 51... Lock Arm 51A...Arm body 51B... Locking protrusion 51C...Top surface 51D…Slanted surface 51E...Finger-pressed area 51F... Lock surface 75...First terminal housing 76...First Lance 78... Fitting cylinder 78A... Upper wall (covering wall) 78B... Rib 78C...Rock section 78D…Reinforcement part 78E... Left and right side walls (covering walls) 78F... Lower wall (covering wall) F…Female terminal L1,L2…Locked part M…Male terminal

Claims

1. Equipped with a first housing and a second housing, The first housing has a fitting cylindrical portion into which the second housing can be fitted, The fitting cylinder portion includes a covering wall that covers the second housing from the outside, a pair of ribs that protrude inward from the covering wall and face each other in a width direction intersecting the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing, and a locking portion that protrudes inward from the covering wall and is positioned between each of the ribs. The second housing has a locking arm positioned between each of the ribs when fitted with the first housing, The lock arm comprises an elastically deformable arm body and a lock projection that protrudes from the arm body and engages with the locking portion. The widthwise dimension of the locking projection is smaller than the widthwise dimension of the arm body. The first housing, when fitted with the second housing, has a reinforcing portion positioned on the outside of the lock projection in the width direction and overlapping with the arm body in the width direction, The reinforcing portion is a connector that protrudes from the covering wall across the rib.

2. The reinforcing portion extends in the fitting direction, The connector according to claim 1, wherein the front end of the reinforcing portion in the mating direction is connected to the locking portion.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the rear end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is located forward of the rear end of the covering wall.

4. The tip of the locking projection in the direction of protrusion has a top surface that intersects with the locking surface facing the locking portion and extends in the fitting direction. The connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the top surface is positioned between the front end and rear end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction when the first housing and the second housing are fitted together.

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