connector

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of reliably holding a connector position assurance (CPA) member at a non-fitting-assured position in a connector provided with the CPA member. A connector 1 comprises: a housing 2; and a CPA member 3 comprising a pair of side beam parts 31 and a central beam part 32. The housing 2 comprises a lock arm 21 and a guide groove 22. The CPA member 3 is configured to be movable in a fitting direction D11 from a non-fitting-assured position to a fitting-assured position. The lock arm 21 has a stopper part 211 configured to be capable of abutting against a tip 32a of the central beam part 32 of the CPA member 3. The CPA member 3 is configured to project in a separation direction D12 from an end part E on the separation direction D12 side of the housing 2 when positioned in the non-fitting-assured position. The side beam parts 31 each have a base part 311 and a wide portion 312 having a width wider than that of the base part 311 in a width direction D2.

Description

connector

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

[0002] A connector having a CPA (connector position assurance) member ensures that the male and female housings are securely mated by allowing the CPA member to move to a mating assurance position when the male and female housings are positioned in a predetermined mating position. A connector structure having such a CPA member is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The connector structure described in Patent Document 1 includes a header housing, a plug housing inserted into the header housing, and a CPA member attached to the plug housing. The CPA member in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of side beams and a central beam provided between the side beams.

[0003] In the connector structure of Patent Document 1, before the header housing and the plug housing are mated, the CPA member is held in a non-mating assured position, retracted from the mating assured position. After the header housing and the plug housing are mated, the CPA member needs to move stably to the mating assured position. In Patent Document 1, before the header housing and the plug housing are mated, the CPA member is held in the non-mating assured position by contact between the tip of the central beam and the cross member of the latch assembly provided on the plug housing over a predetermined contact area. Also, in Patent Document 1, the entire CPA member is held by the plug housing, allowing the CPA member to move stably to the mating assured position.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-264039

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the entire CPA member is held in a state where it is embraced by the plug housing to which the CPA member is attached, not only in the mating guaranteed position but also in the non-mating guaranteed position. Therefore, although the CPA member is stably supported, there is a problem in that the plug housing to which the CPA member is attached becomes large.

[0006] On the other hand, to reduce the size of the plug housing, it is conceivable to configure the CPA member so that, when the CPA member is in the non-mating-assurance position, a portion of the CPA member protrudes from the end of the plug housing rather than being embraced by the plug housing. However, this configuration may result in a force being applied to the CPA member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the CPA member. In this case, as the side beams of the CPA member bend, the position of the tip of the central beam is displaced, reducing the contact area between the tip of the central beam and the cross member of the latch assembly. If a force is applied to the CPA member toward the mating-assurance position in this state, the reduced contact area between the tip of the central beam and the cross member may cause the CPA member to move toward the mating-assurance position, even when the header housing and plug housing are not mated. Therefore, when the header housing and plug housing are not mated, the CPA member cannot be held in the non-mating-assurance position, and the function of ensuring mating cannot be performed. Furthermore, if the CPA member moves before the header housing and plug housing are mated, and the plug housing moves in the mating direction relative to the header housing, the CPA member or housing may be damaged, or the CPA member may have to be returned to the non-mating guaranteed position, which is a wasteful task.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector equipped with a CPA member that can reliably hold the CPA member in the non-mating guaranteed position.

[0008] The connector of the present invention is a connector comprising: a housing that moves in a mating direction relative to a mating housing of a mating connector to mate with the mating housing; a CPA member attached to the housing, the CPA member comprising a pair of side beam portions and a central beam portion provided between the pair of side beam portions in a width direction in which the pair of side beam portions are separated from each other; the housing comprising a lever-shaped lock arm that extends from the mating direction side of the housing in a removal direction that is opposite to the mating direction; and guide grooves that are provided on both sides of the lock arm in the width direction and guide the pair of side beam portions in the mating direction; the CPA member is configured to be movable in the mating direction relative to the housing from a non-mating assurance position to a mating assurance position that ensures that the housing and the mating housing are mated; and the lock arm is configured to be movable relative to the housing in the mating direction from a non-mating assurance position to a mating assurance position that ensures that the housing and the mating housing are mated; and a stopper portion configured to be able to abut against the tip of the central beam portion of the CPA member in order to restrict movement of the CPA member in the mating direction from the non-mating guaranteed position to the mating guaranteed position before the housing is mated with the mating housing, and the CPA member is configured to protrude in the removal direction from the end of the housing on the removal direction side when the CPA member is located at the non-mating guaranteed position, and each of the side beam portions has a base portion extending along the mating direction and has a predetermined width in the width direction in a predetermined region on the mating direction side and a predetermined region on the removal direction side relative to the end of the housing on the removal direction side when the CPA member is in the non-mating guaranteed position, and a wide portion provided on one side of the base in a thickness direction perpendicular to the mating direction and the width direction, extending along the mating direction and having a width in the width direction wider than that of the base.

[0009] According to the connector of the present invention, in a connector provided with a CPA member, it is possible to reliably hold the CPA member in the non-mating guaranteed position.

[0010] 1 is a perspective view showing a connector structure including a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention and a mating connector, the connector being in a state before mating with the mating connector and the CPA member being attached to the housing of the connector. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the CPA member has been attached to the housing of the connector from the state shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector structure shown in FIG. 2, taken in the mating / removal direction and passing through the central beam portion of the CPA member. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the housing of the connector has been mated with the mating housing of the mating connector from the state shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the CPA member has moved to a mating assurance position from the state shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a view of the housing shown in FIG. 6 as seen in the mating direction. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the CPA member. FIG. 8 is a top view of the CPA member. FIG. 9 is a top view of the housing with the CPA member positioned in a non-mating assurance position. FIG. 11 is a view showing the process of attaching the CPA member to the housing, showing a state in which the extensions of the side beam portions of the CPA member have entered the guide grooves. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the CPA member has moved in the mating direction while the side beam portions are deflected inward from the state shown in FIG. 11 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the CPA member has further moved in the mating direction from the state shown in FIG. 12 , and the engaged portion of the CPA member has reached a position where it can engage with the engaging portion of the guide groove. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the side wall of the locking arm and the wide portion of the side beam portion of the CPA member when the CPA member is located in the mating assurance position. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the CPA member of the reference example. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a force is applied in the thickness direction to a portion of the CPA member of the reference example that protrudes from the housing from the state shown in FIG.

[0011] A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example, and the connector of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. Note that in this specification, "perpendicular to A" and similar expressions do not refer only to a direction completely perpendicular to A, but also include a direction that is approximately perpendicular to A. Also, in this specification, "parallel to B" and similar expressions do not refer only to a direction completely parallel to B, but also include a direction that is approximately parallel to B. Also, in this specification, "C-shaped" and similar expressions do not refer only to a perfect C-shape, but also include a shape that visually resembles a C-shape (approximately a C-shape), such as a shape with chamfered corners.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector 1 of this embodiment includes a housing 2 and a CPA member 3. The connector 1 of this embodiment is connected to a mating connector C. A structure including the connector 1 and the mating connector C is referred to as a connector structure CS. The connector 1 moves in a mating direction D11 to mate with the mating connector C, and terminals (not shown) of the connector 1 are connected to terminals C2 of the mating connector C, thereby electrically connecting the connector 1 and the mating connector C. Note that in this embodiment, the terminals C2 of the mating connector C are mounted on a substrate (not shown), and electric wires (not shown) are connected to the terminals of the connector 1. However, the objects to which the mating connector C and the connector 1 are connected are not particularly limited. Furthermore, the uses of the connector structure CS and the connector 1 are not particularly limited as long as the CPA member 3 can be used.

[0013] In this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, the connector structure CS ensures that the connector 1 and the mating connector C are reliably mated by the CPA member 3. Specifically, when the connector 1 is not mated with the mating connector C (see FIG. 3) or is in an incompletely mated state, the CPA member 3 cannot move to a mating assurance position (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, but when the connector 1 is completely mated with the mating connector C (see FIGS. 4 and 5), the CPA member 3 can move to the mating assurance position. This ensures that the connector 1 and the mating connector C are reliably mated.

[0014] Hereinafter, in this specification, the direction in which the connector 1 moves when mating with the mating connector C is referred to as the mating direction D11. Furthermore, the direction in which the connector 1 is disengaged from the mating connector C is referred to as the disengagement direction D12. The disengagement direction D12 is the opposite direction to the mating direction D11. The mating direction D11 and the disengagement direction D12 are collectively referred to as the mating / disengagement direction D1. The direction in which a pair of side beam portions 31, 31 of the CPA member 3 (described later) move away from each other is referred to as the width direction D2. The direction perpendicular to the mating / disengagement direction D1 and the width direction D2 is referred to as the thickness direction D3. The mating / disengagement direction D1, the width direction D2, and the thickness direction D3 may also be referred to as the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction, respectively. The mating direction D11, the disengagement direction D12, the mating / disengagement direction D1, the width direction D2, and the thickness direction D3 are also used when describing the components and parts of the mating connector C and the connector 1.

[0015] The mating connector C is a connector configured to mate with the connector 1. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the mating connector C includes a mating housing C1 and terminals C2 provided in the mating housing C1.

[0016] The mating housing C1 is configured to be matable with the housing 2 of the connector 1. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the mating housing C1 is configured in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a first mating wall portion C11 and a second mating wall portion C12 that face each other in the thickness direction D3, a pair of third mating wall portions C13 and fourth mating wall portions C14 that face each other in the width direction D2 and connect the first mating wall portion C11 and the second mating wall portion C12 at both ends in the width direction D2, and a fifth mating wall portion C15 that serves as an end wall in the mating direction D11. The first to fifth mating walls C11 to C15 define an internal space of the mating housing C1. Terminals C2 extend from the fifth mating wall portion C15 in the removal direction D12 into the internal space of the mating housing C1 (see FIG. 3 ). An opening C16 is formed at the end of the mating housing C1 on the side of the removal direction D12, allowing the housing 2 to be inserted in the fitting direction D11.

[0017] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the mating housing C1 has a mating engagement portion C17 at the opening edge of the opening C16 that can engage with the housing 2. In this embodiment, the mating engagement portion C17 protrudes from the inner surface of the first mating wall portion C11 at the end of the first mating wall portion C11 on the removal direction D12 side toward the second mating wall portion C12 in the thickness direction D3. The mating engagement portion C17 has an inclined surface C171 on the removal direction D12 side. The inclined surface C171 is inclined so as to approach the second mating wall portion C12 as it progresses in the fitting direction D11. In addition, the mating engagement portion C17 has an engagement surface C172 on the fitting direction D11 side that can engage with a stopper portion 211 of the lock arm 21 (described later) in the fitting / removal direction D1.

[0018] The connector 1 is mated with the mating connector C by moving in a mating direction D11 relative to the mating connector C. The connector 1 has terminals (not shown) that are electrically connected to terminals C2 of the mating connector C.

[0019] 1 to 3, the connector 1 includes a housing 2 and a CPA member 3. The housing 2 moves in a mating direction D11 relative to a mating housing C1 of a mating connector C to mate with the mating housing C1. The CPA member 3 includes a pair of side beam portions 31, 31 and a central beam portion 32 provided between the pair of side beam portions 31, 31 in the width direction D2, and is attached to the housing 2.

[0020] The housing 2 is connected to the mating housing C1. The housing 2 is configured to support terminals (not shown). In this embodiment, the housing 2 is configured to support a plurality of terminals, and a plurality of electric wires connected to the plurality of terminals are led out from the rear end of the housing 2. The housing 2 also supports the CPA member 3 so that it can move in the mating / removing direction D1.

[0021] Although the shape and structure of the housing 2 are not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the housing 2 is configured in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, the housing 2 includes a first wall portion W1 and a second wall portion W2 that face each other in the thickness direction D3, a pair of third wall portions W3 and fourth wall portions W4 that face each other in the width direction D2 and connect the first wall portion W1 and the second wall portion W2 at both ends in the width direction D2, and a fifth wall portion W5 that serves as an end wall in the removal direction D12.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, the housing 2 is equipped with a lever-shaped lock arm 21 extending from the mating direction D11 side of the housing 2 in the removal direction D12, and guide grooves 22, 22 provided on both sides of the lock arm 21 in the width direction D2 to guide a pair of side beam portions 31, 31 in the mating direction D11.

[0023] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the lock arm 21 engages with the mating housing C1 so as to prevent the housing 2 from separating from the mating housing C1 when the CPA member 3 is positioned in the mating assurance position.

[0024] The shape and structure of the lock arm 21 are not limited to those shown in the drawings. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , the lock arm 21 is provided so as to extend in a cantilevered manner from an end region of the first wall portion W1 of the housing 2 on the mating direction D11 side toward the removal direction D12. The lock arm 21 is configured to elastically deform around a base end portion 21a located in the end region on the mating direction D11 side as a fulcrum, and swing in the thickness direction D3. Note that when the housing 2 is inserted into the internal space of the mating housing C1, a portion of the lock arm 21 is configured to enter the interior of the mating housing C1 through the opening C16, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3 , the lock arm 21 has a stopper portion 211 configured to be able to come into contact with the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 of the CPA member 3 to restrict movement of the CPA member 3 in the mating direction D11 from the non-mating assurance position (see Fig. 3 ) to the mating assurance position (see Fig. 5 ) before the housing 2 is mated with the mating housing C1. In this embodiment, the lock arm 21 has an operating portion 212 at the tip 21b on the removal direction D12 side that can operate the lock arm 21. The lock arm 21 also has an accommodating portion 213 between the base end 21a and the tip 21b in the mating / removal direction D1 that can accommodate the tip (tip region including the tip 32a) of the central beam portion 32 when the CPA member 3 is positioned at the mating assurance position.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3 , the stopper portion 211 is configured to be able to abut against the tip end 32a (end face on the mating direction D11 side) of the central beam portion 32 of the CPA member 3 when the CPA member 3 is located in the non-mating guaranteed position. The "non-mating guaranteed position" is the initial position of the CPA member 3 before the CPA member 3 is moved to the mating guaranteed position. The non-mating guaranteed position of the CPA member 3 is a position where the tip end 32a of the central beam portion 32 is closer to the removal direction D12 than the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 on the removal direction D12 side in the mating / removal direction D1. FIG. 3 shows the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 and the tip end 32a of the central beam portion 32 in the non-mating guaranteed position. However, the non-mating-guaranteed position of the CPA member 3 may be any position where the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 and the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 can abut when the CPA member 3 is subjected to a force moving in the mating direction D11. Therefore, the non-mating-guaranteed position of the CPA member 3 may be a position where the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 and the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 are slightly spaced apart from each other in the mating / removal direction D1 and are in a non-contact state. The "mating-guaranteed position" is a position where, when the housing 2 is completely mated with the mating housing C1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the CPA member 3 moves from the non-mating-guaranteed position in the mating direction D11 to guarantee mating between the housing 2 and the mating housing C1. In this embodiment, the mating-guaranteed position of the CPA member 3 is a position where the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 is on the mating direction D11 side relative to the stopper portion 211. More specifically, the mating guaranteed position of the CPA member 3 is the position where the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 overcomes the stopper portion 211 in the mating direction D11 and the tip portion of the central beam portion 32 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 213.

[0027] The stopper portion 211 is capable of abutting against the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 of the CPA member 3 and restricts movement of the CPA member 3 to the mating-assurance position. The shape and structure of the stopper portion 211 are not particularly limited as long as it is capable of abutting against the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 of the CPA member 3 and restricting movement of the CPA member 3 to the mating-assurance position. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , the stopper portion 211 extends in the width direction D2 to connect a pair of arm portions 214, 214 extending in the mating / removal direction D1 at both ends of the width direction D2 of the locking arm 21. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the stopper portion 211 has an abutment surface 211 a that contacts the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 with a predetermined contact area so as to restrict movement of the CPA member 3 in the mating direction D11 when a force is applied in the mating direction D11 to the CPA member 3 positioned in the non-mating-assurance position. In this embodiment, the contact surface 211 a is configured as a surface perpendicular to the mating / removal direction D1. In addition, in this embodiment, the contact surface 211 a engages with the mating engagement portion C17 (engagement surface C172) of the mating housing C1, thereby preventing the housing 2 from being separated from the mating housing C1.

[0028] The operating portion 212 is a portion that can operate the locking arm 21. When the housing 2 is mated with the mating housing C1 and the CPA member 3 is in the non-mating guaranteed position, operating the operating portion 212 releases the engagement between the housing 2 and the mating housing C1, allowing the housing 2 to be removed from the mating housing C1. Specifically, when the operating portion 212 located on the outer side of the mating housing C1 is pressed toward the sliding surface W11, the stopper portion 211 of the locking arm 21 is displaced toward the sliding surface W11. This releases the engagement between the stopper portion 211 and the engagement surface C172 of the mating engagement portion C17, allowing the housing 2 to be moved in the removal direction D12.

[0029] The accommodation portion 213 is a portion into which the tip of the central beam portion 32 of the CPA member 3 fits when the central beam portion 32 elastically returns to its original position after elastically deforming to overcome the stopper portion 211 in the fitting direction D11. In this embodiment, the accommodation portion 213 is shown as a through hole that penetrates the lock arm 21 in the thickness direction D3, but it may also be a non-through recess.

[0030] The guide grooves 22 guide the side beam portions 31 of the CPA member 3 in the fitting direction D11. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 , the guide grooves 22 are provided on both sides of the lock arm 21 in the width direction D2. In this embodiment, the guide grooves 22 have engaging portions 221 that restrict the CPA member 3 from being removed in the removal direction D12. The provision of the engaging portions 221 prevents the CPA member 3 from coming off the housing 2. In this embodiment, the engaging portions 221 are configured to engage with engaged portions 311 a provided on the base portions 311 of the side beam portions 31 of the CPA member 3, as shown in FIG. 10 .

[0031] 6 and 7 , guide groove 22 has guide wall 222 that faces protrusion 312a (see FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of wide portion 312 of CPA member 3 (described later) in the thickness direction. Guide wall 222 has first restriction surface 222a that faces sliding surface W11 in the thickness direction D3 and restricts movement of CPA member 3 in the thickness direction D3, and second restriction surface 222b that faces base 311 of CPA member 3 in the width direction D2 and restricts movement of CPA member 3 in the width direction D2. First restriction surface 222a and second restriction surface 222b of guide wall 222 of guide groove 22 make it possible to guide CPA member 3 (described later) while restricting separation and rattle in the width direction D2 and thickness direction D3, without increasing the size of housing 2. In this embodiment, the first restriction surface 222a is configured by a surface parallel to the sliding surface W11, and the second restriction surface 222b extends perpendicular to the first restriction surface 222a and the sliding surface W11.

[0032] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7 , the guide groove 22 is configured as a substantially L-shaped passage provided on both sides of the lock arm 21 in the width direction D2 when viewed in the fitting direction D11. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7 , the guide groove 22, which is a substantially L-shaped passage, faces each other in the width direction D2 and is defined by an inner surface 223 extending perpendicular to the sliding surface W11, a first restriction surface 222a extending toward the lock arm 21 in the width direction D2 from the inner surface 223, a second restriction surface 222b extending perpendicular to the first restriction surface 222a in the thickness direction D3, and side walls 214a that are both ends of the lock arm 21 in the width direction D2. The inner surface 223 is provided at a height corresponding to the height of the wide portion 312 of the side beam portion 31 in the thickness direction D3 (a height slightly higher than the height of the wide portion 312). In addition, the protrusion width in the width direction D2 from the inner surface 223 of the first regulating surface 222a corresponds to the width in the width direction D2 of the protrusion 312a, which is wider than the base 311 (slightly shorter than the width of the protrusion 312a).

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 , the guide wall 222 protrudes a constant width from the inner surface 223 from the opening edge of the guide groove 22 on the removal direction D12 side to the engagement portion 221, which is a predetermined distance in the fitting direction D11. The guide wall 222 protrudes less from the inner surface on the fitting direction D11 side than the engagement portion 221. This creates a step in the width direction D2 on the guide wall 222, and this step constitutes the engagement portion 221. Note that the guide groove is not limited to the structure shown in the drawings. The guide groove can be modified as appropriate depending on the shape of the side beam portion and may have other shapes, such as a substantially T-shape (a substantially T-shape including a substantially L-shape portion) when viewed in the fitting direction D11. Note that the terms "substantially L-shape" and "substantially T-shape" also include an inverted L-shape and an inverted T-shape. The engagement portion may be formed by a protrusion or the like protruding from the inner surface 223, as long as it can restrict movement of the CPA member 3 in the removal direction D12.

[0034] The CPA member 3 is configured to be movable in the mating direction D11 relative to the housing 2 from a non-mating assurance position to a mating assurance position that ensures that the housing 2 and the mating housing C1 are mated. By moving from the non-mating assurance position to the mating assurance position, the CPA member 3 ensures that the housing 2 is securely mated with the mating housing C1. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , when the housing 2 is securely mated with the mating housing C1 (a state in which the stopper portion 211 is engaged with the engagement surface C172 of the mating engagement portion C17), the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 of the CPA member 3 is positioned at a position offset in the thickness direction D3 from the contact surface 211 a of the stopper portion 211 when it reaches the position of the contact surface 211 a of the stopper portion 211 in the mating / removal direction D1. As a result, the movement of the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 in the mating direction D11 is not restricted by the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211, and the CPA member 3 can move in the mating direction D11. Furthermore, when the housing 2 is not securely mated with the mating housing C1 (when the stopper portion 211 is positioned closer to the removal direction D12 than the engagement surface C172 of the mating engagement portion C17), the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 comes into contact with the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211, restricting its movement in the mating direction D11. Therefore, the CPA member 3 cannot move from the non-mating-assurance position to the mating-assurance position. As described above, when the housing 2 is completely mated with the mating housing C1, the CPA member 3 can move to the mating-assurance position. When the housing 2 is not completely mated with the mating housing C1, the CPA member 3 cannot move to the mating-assurance position, ensuring that the housing 2 is securely mated with the mating housing C1.

[0035] 8 and 9, the CPA member 3 includes a CPA member operating portion 33 that is operated when moving the CPA member 3 in the fitting direction D11, a pair of side beam portions 31 extending from the CPA member operating portion 33, and a central beam portion 32 extending from the CPA member operating portion 33. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the CPA member 3 is attached to the housing 2 by being inserted in the fitting direction D11 from the opening edge of the guide groove 22 of the housing 2. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, during the process of attaching the CPA member 3 to the housing 2, the pair of side beam portions 31 bend inward in the width direction D2. When the CPA member 3 moves in the mating direction D11 until the engaged portions 311a provided on the side beam portions 31 reach the positions of the engaging portions 221 of the housing 2, as shown in FIG. 13 , the pair of side beam portions 31, 31 expand outward in the width direction D2, and the engaged portions 311a engage with the engaging portions 221 in the mating / removal direction D1. This prevents the CPA member 3 from being removed from the housing 2 and holds it in the non-mating-guaranteed position shown in FIG. 13 . In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 13 , the CPA member 3 is configured to protrude in the removal direction D12 from the end E of the housing 2 on the removal direction D12 side when it is in the non-mating-guaranteed position. In this case, when the CPA member 3 is in the non-mating-guaranteed position, it is not necessary to completely surround the CPA member 3 with the housing 2 as in Patent Document 1, and therefore the housing 2 can be made smaller in size in the mating / removal direction D1.

[0036] The CPA member operating portion 33 is a portion that is operated when attaching the CPA member 3 to the housing 2 or when moving the CPA member 3 from the non-mating-guaranteed position to the mating-guaranteed position. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the side beam portions 31 and the central beam portion 32 are connected to the CPA member operating portion 33, and the CPA member operating portion 33 also serves as a base portion for the side beam portions 31 and the central beam portion 32. The CPA member operating portion 33 is provided at the end of the CPA member 3 on the removal direction D12 side, and protrudes in the removal direction D12 from the end E of the housing 2 on the removal direction D12 side when the CPA member 3 is in the non-mating-guaranteed position (see FIGS. 3 , 10 , etc.). The shape and structure of the CPA member operating portion 33 are not particularly limited as long as it can operate the CPA member 3. In this embodiment, the CPA member operating portion 33 includes a plate-shaped portion 331, a finger hook portion 332, and a block portion 333, as shown in FIGS.

[0037] The base ends of the side beam portions 31 and the central beam portion 32 are connected to the plate-shaped portion 331. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the plate-shaped portion 331 extends in the width direction D2 to connect the base ends of the pair of side beam portions 31, 31, and the base end of the central beam portion 32 is connected to the center of the plate-shaped portion 331 in the width direction D2. The finger hook portion 332 extends in the thickness direction D3 from the end of the plate-shaped portion 331 on the removal direction D12 side and is operated by the user's finger. As shown in FIG. 5 , the block portion 333 enters between the operating portion 212 of the lock arm 21 and the sliding surface W11 when the CPA member 3 moves to the mating assurance position. This restricts the movement of the operating portion 212 in the thickness direction D3 to a predetermined range, preventing the stopper portion 211 from disengaging from the mating engagement portion C17 even if a force is applied to the operating portion 212 in the thickness direction D3.

[0038] When the housing 2 is not completely fitted to the mating housing C1, the central beam portion 32 engages with the stopper portion 211 of the housing 2 in the fitting / removal direction D1, thereby restricting the movement of the CPA member 3 to the fitting assurance position. Furthermore, the central beam portion 32 is configured to be elastically deformable in the thickness direction D3 so as to release the engagement with the stopper portion 211 when the housing 2 is completely fitted to the mating housing C1.

[0039] The central beam portion 32 extends in a cantilevered manner from the CPA member operating portion 33 (plate-shaped portion 331) in the mating direction D11. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , the central beam portion 32 is inclined so that the distance from the sliding surface W11 increases as the central beam portion 32 moves from the plate-shaped portion 331 in the mating direction D11. Therefore, when the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 moves to the position of the mating engagement portion C17 in the mating / removal direction D1, the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 comes into contact with the inclined surface C171 of the mating engagement portion C17. As a result, the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 comes into contact with the inclined surface C171, and the central beam portion 32 is deflected so that the tip 32 a of the central beam portion 32 is displaced toward the sliding surface W11 (see FIG. 4 ). 4, the engagement between the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 and the stopper portion 211 is released, allowing the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 to move over the stopper portion 211. Once the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 moves over the stopper portion 211, the tip portion including the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 elastically returns to its original position and is accommodated in the accommodation portion 213 when the CPA member 3 moves to the mating assurance position (see FIG. 5). At this time, the block portion 333 is inserted below the operation portion 212, so that the lock arm 21 is restricted from bending toward the sliding surface W11, the engagement between the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 and the engagement surface C172 of the mating engagement portion C17 is maintained, and the housing 2 is prevented from coming off the mating housing C1.

[0040] In this embodiment, the tip 32a, which is the end face of the central beam portion 32 on the mating direction D11 side, is configured to come into surface contact with the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 over a predetermined contact area when the CPA member 3 is in the non-mating guaranteed position. The size of this contact area is not particularly limited, but is set to a predetermined size such that when a force is applied to the CPA member 3 in the mating direction D11, the engagement between the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 and the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 is released and the CPA member 3 does not move in the mating direction D11. In this embodiment, the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 and the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211 are configured to be surfaces perpendicular to the mating / removal direction D1.

[0041] 8 and 9, in this embodiment, the central beam portion 32 is configured so that its width in the width direction D2 increases from the distal end 32a toward the proximal end. In this case, stress is prevented from concentrating on the proximal end of the central beam portion 32, which is the connection point between the central beam portion 32 and the CPA member operating portion 33 (plate-shaped portion 331). Therefore, the central beam portion 32 is less likely to break.

[0042] The side beam portion 31 is a portion that is guided in the fitting / removal direction D1 by the guide groove 22. In this embodiment, as will be described later, when the CPA member 3 moves in the fitting direction D11, the side beam portion 31 is guided by the guide groove 22 in a state in which movement of the side beam portion 31 in the width direction D2 and the thickness direction D3 is restricted. In this embodiment, the side beam portion 31 engages with the housing 2 in the fitting / removal direction D1, thereby preventing the CPA member 3 from separating from the housing 2.

[0043] The side beam portions 31 are guided by the guide grooves 22 of the housing 2. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , each side beam portion 31 has a base portion 311 that has a predetermined width in the width direction D2 and extends along the mating direction D11, and a wide portion 312 that is provided on one side of the base portion 311 in the thickness direction D3 and has a width in the width direction D2 wider than that of the base portion 311 and extends along the mating direction D11. When the CPA member 3 moves from the non-mating-assurance position to the mating-assurance position, the base portion 311 and the wide portion 312 are guided by the guide grooves 22. More specifically, the base portion 311 and the wide portion 312 are configured so that the cross section of the side beam portion 31 perpendicular to the mating / removal direction D1 has a substantially L-shape, and are guided by the above-mentioned substantially L-shaped guide groove 22. This allows the CPA member 3 to move along the guide groove 22 while preventing separation or rattle of the CPA member 3 in the width direction D2 and thickness direction D3. The cross-sectional shape of the side beam portion formed by the base portion and the wide portion is not limited to the shape shown in the figure. The cross-sectional shape of the side beam portion may be other shapes, such as a substantially T-shape (a substantially T-shape including a substantially L-shaped portion). The terms "substantially L-shape" and "substantially T-shape" also include an inverted L-shape and an inverted T-shape.

[0044] In this embodiment, the wide portion 312 is provided on the sliding surface W11 side of the base 311 in the thickness direction D3, but it may also be provided on the opposite side of the sliding surface W11 from the base 311 in the thickness direction D3.

[0045] The base portion 311 is a portion that constitutes a part of the side beam portion 31, and is a portion that is narrower in width direction D2 than the wide portion 312. As will be described later, the base portion 311, together with the wide portion 312, functions as a guide portion that guides the CPA member 3 in the fitting / removal direction D1, and together with the wide portion 312, improves the bending strength of the side beam portion 31.

[0046] The length of the base 311 in the mating / removal direction D1 is not particularly limited as long as the base 311 is provided in a predetermined region, which will be described later. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the base 311 extends from the end of the CPA member 3 in the removal direction D12 toward the mating direction D11, beyond the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32. In this case, the CPA member 3 can be guided more stably, and the bending strength of the side beam portions 31 is further improved. Note that the base 311 may be provided over the entire length of the side beam portions 31 in the mating / removal direction D1, or may be provided only partially.

[0047] 8 and 9, the base 311 has an engaged portion 311a at its tip on the mating direction D11 side that engages with the engaging portion 221. The engaged portion 311a engages with the engaging portion 221 in the mating / removal direction D1, thereby preventing the CPA member 3 from being removed from the housing 2. In this embodiment, movement of the CPA member 3 in the removal direction D12 is restricted by the engaged portion 311a engaging with the engaging portion 221. On the other hand, movement of the CPA member 3 in the mating direction D11 is restricted by the engagement of the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 with the abutment surface 211a of the stopper portion 211. This holds the CPA member 3 in a predetermined non-mating guaranteed position.

[0048] The shape and structure of the engaged portion 311a are not particularly limited as long as it can engage with the engaging portion 221 to prevent the CPA member 3 from coming off the housing 2. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the engaged portion 311a is provided at the tip of the base 311 so as to protrude outward in the width direction D2 (in a direction away from the other side beam portion 31) relative to other portions of the base 311. More specifically, the base 311 extends linearly from the base end of the side beam portion 31 (the connection point with the finger hook portion 332) in the fitting direction D11, and the engaged portion 311a protrudes outward in the width direction D2 at the tip of the base 311 on the fitting direction D11 side. 8 and 9 , the inner surface of the base 311 in the width direction D2 at or near the tip of the base 311 has an inclined surface 311b that slopes outward in the width direction D2 as it approaches the tip of the base 311. As will be described later, the provision of this inclined surface 311b prevents the base 311 from interfering with the side wall 214a of the lock arm 21 when the side beam portion 31 is bent inward in the width direction D2 (see FIG. 12 ) during attachment of the CPA member 3 to the housing 2. Furthermore, the tip of the base 311 is tapered. As a result, when the CPA member 3 is attached to the housing 2, the tip of the base 311 abuts against the corner portion of the guide wall 222 at the opening edge of the guide groove 22, and the base 311 receives an inward force in the width direction D2 from the corner portion of the guide wall 222, making it easier for the side beam portion 31 to bend inward in the width direction D2.

[0049] The wide portion 312 constitutes a part of the side beam portion 31 and is wider in the width direction D2 than the base portion 311. As described below, the wide portion 312 functions, together with the base portion 311, as a guide portion that guides the CPA member 3 in the fitting / removal direction D1, and, together with the base portion 311, improves the bending strength of the side beam portion 31. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the wide portion 312 has a protruding portion 312a that protrudes in the width direction D2 from the base portion 311. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 312a protrudes in the width direction D2 away from the central beam portion 32. However, the protruding portion may protrude in the width direction D2 from the base portion 311 toward the central beam portion 32, or may protrude on both sides in the width direction D2. In addition, in this embodiment, the wide portion 312 is located on the sliding surface W11 side in the thickness direction D3 relative to the base 311, but it may be located on the opposite side of the sliding surface W11, or may be provided on both sides in the thickness direction D3.

[0050] In this embodiment, the side beam portion 31 is configured so that the cross section perpendicular to the fitting direction D11 has a substantially L-shaped portion due to the base portion 311 and the wide portion 312. Here, "having a substantially L-shaped portion" is a concept that includes not only a case in which the base portion 311 and the wide portion 312 are formed in a substantially L shape, as in this embodiment, but also a case in which the side beam portion 31 has another portion in addition to the substantially L-shaped portion, thereby forming a substantially T-shaped or substantially H-shaped portion.

[0051] The length of the wide portion 312 in the mating / removal direction D1 is not particularly limited as long as the wide portion 312 is provided in a predetermined region described below. The wide portion 312 may be provided over the entire length of the side beam portion 31 in the mating / removal direction D1, or may be provided only in a portion thereof. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the wide portion 312 extends from the end of the CPA member 3 in the removal direction D12 toward the mating direction D11, beyond the tip of the central beam portion 32 and the tip of the base portion 311. The side beam portion 31 is configured to have a substantially L-shaped portion from the end of the CPA member 3 in the removal direction D12 to the tip of the base portion 311. In this case, the CPA member 3 is more stably guided by the guide groove 22, and the bending strength of the side beam portion 31 is further improved. 8 and 9 , in this embodiment, the wide portion 312 extends linearly in the fitting direction D11 from the base end of the side beam portion 31 (the connection point with the finger hook portion 332) with a constant width wider than that of the base portion 311. The inner and outer edges of the wide portion 312 extend parallel to each other, and the inner edge of the wide portion 312 coincides with the inner edge of the base portion 311 (the portion closer to the removal direction D12 than the inclined surface 311b described above). The tip of the wide portion 312 is tapered so that it can be easily inserted into the opening of the guide groove 22 when attaching the CPA member 3 to the housing 2.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the wide portion 312 has an extension 312b that extends beyond the tip of the base portion 311 in the mating direction D11. Because the extension 312b extends beyond the tip of the base portion 311, the CPA member 3 can be easily attached to the housing 2. Specifically, when attaching the CPA member 3 to the housing 2, as shown in FIG. 11 , of the base portion 311 and the wide portion 312, only the extension 312b of the wide portion 312 is inserted into the guide groove 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 12 , the tip of the base portion 311 abuts against the guide wall 222 and is pushed inward in the width direction D2. At this time, the CPA member 3 is pushed in the mating direction D11 with a certain amount of force, but the CPA member 3 is pushed in while its movement in the width direction D2 and thickness direction D3 is restricted by the extension 312b. Therefore, the CPA member 3 can be pushed in the fitting direction D11 with its posture stabilized, and the CPA member 3 can be easily fitted into the housing 2. In particular, in this embodiment, the side beam portions 31 are made less likely to bend by the base portions 311 and the wide portions 312, but the provision of the extension portions 312b allows the pair of side beam portions 31 to deform evenly, allowing the CPA member 3 to be pushed in with a stable posture.

[0053] In this embodiment, the locking arm 21 has side walls 214a on both sides in the width direction D2 that face the base portion 311 in the width direction D2. In this embodiment, the side walls 214a are outer walls in the width direction D2 of the arm portion 214 of the locking arm 21. As shown in Figure 14, the lower end B of each side wall 214a that faces the sliding surface W11 is inclined so that the distance from the sliding surface W11 increases from the base end 21a on the fitting direction D11 side of the locking arm 21 toward the tip end 21b on the removal direction D12 side. Furthermore, when the side beam portions 31 bend toward the central beam portion 32 (see FIG. 12 ) during attachment of the CPA member 3 to the housing 2, the distance in the thickness direction D3 of the lower ends B of the side walls 214a from the sliding surface W11 at the distal ends (ends on the removal direction D12 side) of the side walls 214a from the sliding surface W11 is greater than the thickness of the wide portions 312 in the thickness direction D3 (see FIG. 14 ) so that the side beam portions 31 can enter between the lower ends B of the side walls 214a and the sliding surface W11 (see FIG. 12 ). In this case, the side beam portions 31 bend inward in the width direction D2 from the state shown in FIG. 11 to the state shown in FIG. 12 , and part of the wide portions 312 enters between the lower ends B of the side walls 214a and the sliding surface W11, as shown in FIG. 12 . In this state, when the CPA member 3 moves further in the fitting direction D11, the wide portion 312 abuts against the lower end B of the side wall 214a and lifts the lock arm 21 in the thickness direction D3 away from the sliding surface W11. When the CPA member 3 further moves in the fitting direction D11 and the engaged portion 311a of the base 311 reaches the position of the engaging portion 221 of the guide groove 22, the side beam portion 31 elastically returns to its original position and expands outward in the width direction D2, as shown in FIG. 13. As a result, the wide portion 312 is released from between the lower end B of the side wall 214a and the sliding surface W11. At the same time, the lock arm 21, which has been lifted by the wide portion 312, elastically returns to its initial state shown in FIG. 14. As shown in Figure 14, when the CPA member 3 is attached to the housing 2, the side wall 214a and the wide portion 312 face each other in the width direction D2 on the base end 21a side of the lock arm 21 so as to prevent the side beam portion 31 from bending toward the central beam portion 32 (see region R in Figure 14 where the side wall 214a and the wide portion 312 overlap).In this manner, when the CPA member 3 is attached to the housing 2, the side wall 214a and the side surface of the wide portion 312 face each other in the width direction D2, thereby restricting the side beam portion 31 from bending inward in the width direction D2 from the state shown in Fig. 13. Therefore, the CPA member 3 is reliably restricted from coming off the housing 2.

[0054] 2 and 10 , when the CPA member 3 is in the non-mating guaranteed position, the base 311 and the wide portion 312 are provided in a predetermined region on the mating direction D11 side and a predetermined region on the removal direction D12 side with respect to the end E of the housing 2 on the removal direction D12 side. Here, the "end E of the housing 2 on the removal direction D12 side" refers to the end on the removal direction D12 side of the region where the CPA member 3 (side beam portion 31) is provided in the width direction D2. The "predetermined region on the mating direction D11 side and the predetermined region on the removal direction D12 side" refer to predetermined regions on both sides of the end E of the housing 2 on the removal direction D12 side in the mating / removal direction D1. That is, in this embodiment, the CPA member 3 protrudes from the housing 2 in the removal direction D12. When a force is applied to the CPA member 3 in the thickness direction D3, a force that causes bending deformation is applied to the end E of the CPA member 3 on the removal direction D12 side of the housing 2, with the end E on the removal direction D12 side of the housing 2 as a fulcrum. In this embodiment, the base 311 and the wide portion 312 are provided on both sides of the fulcrum of this bending deformation in the mating / removal direction D1. This suppresses deformation of the side beam portions 31 and regulates displacement of the central beam portion 32 in the thickness direction D3 due to deformation of the side beam portions 31. This suppresses disengagement between the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 and the stopper portion 211 due to displacement of the central beam portion 32 in the thickness direction D3, and suppresses movement of the CPA member 3 to the mating position when the housing 2 and the mating housing C1 are not mated. The lengths of the predetermined region on the fitting direction D11 side and the predetermined region on the removal direction D12 side, in which the base 311 and the wide portion 312 are provided, are not particularly limited. For example, the predetermined region on the fitting direction D11 side, in which the base 311 and the wide portion 312 are provided, is preferably provided on the fitting direction D11 side with a length equal to or greater than 1 / 10, more preferably equal to or greater than 1 / 5, and even more preferably equal to or greater than 1 / 2 of the length of the side beam portion 31 in the fitting / removal direction D1, centered on the end E of the housing 2 on the removal direction D12 side.Furthermore, the specified area on the removal direction D12 side where the base 311 and the wide portion 312 are provided is preferably provided, for example, centered on the end E on the removal direction D12 side of the housing 2, with a length on the removal direction D12 side that is at least 1 / 10 of the length of the side beam portion 31 in the engagement / removal direction D1, more preferably at least 1 / 5 of the length, and even more preferably up to the end of the CPA member 3 on the removal direction D12 side.

[0055] The effects of the above-mentioned base portion 311 and wide portion 312 will be described in more detail below. Fig. 15 is a reference diagram showing an example of a conventional CPA member 30 in which a base portion and a wide portion are not provided in a predetermined region on the fitting direction D11 side and a predetermined region on the removal direction D12 side with respect to the end E on the removal direction D12 side of the housing 20. Fig. 16 shows the state in which the CPA member 30 of the reference example shown in Fig. 15 is attached to the housing 20. Fig. 17 shows the state in which a force is applied in the thickness direction D3 to the portion of the CPA member 30 that protrudes from the housing 20 from the state shown in Fig. 16.

[0056] In the CPA member 30 of the reference example, the side beam portion 310 is configured in a flat plate shape. The CPA member 30 protrudes from the end E of the housing 20 on the removal direction D12 side. When a force is applied to the CPA member operating portion 330 of the CPA member 30 in the thickness direction D3 (e.g., downward in FIG. 16 ) from the state shown in FIG. 16 , the upper surface of the side beam portion 310 guided by the guide groove 220 abuts against the lower surface of the guide groove 220, restricting the movement of the side beam portion 310. When further force is applied to the CPA member operating portion 330 of the CPA member 30 in the thickness direction D3 in this state, bending deformation occurs such that the CPA member operating portion 330 drops downward, with the end E on the removal direction D12 side of the housing 20 as a fulcrum. In this case, as shown in FIG. 17 , the central beam 320 connected to the CPA member operating unit 330 is displaced upward in the thickness direction D3 due to the deformation of the CPA member operating unit 330 because there is no portion above it that restricts its movement in the thickness direction D3. This displacement reduces the contact area between the tip 320a of the central beam 320 and the abutment surface 2110a of the stopper 2110 or moves to a non-contact position. If a force is applied to the CPA member 30 in this state in the mating direction D11, the tip 320a of the central beam 320 may move in the mating direction D11 beyond the stopper 2110, or the central beam 320 may be bent and damaged. In this case, the CPA member 30 cannot be held in the non-mating position, and the mating function of the CPA member 30 cannot be maintained. Furthermore, when a force is applied to the CPA member operating portion 330 upward in the thickness direction D3, the central beam portion 320 is displaced downward in the thickness direction D3, causing a similar problem.

[0057] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the base portion 311 and the wide portion 312 are provided on both sides in the mating / removal direction D1 of the end E of the CPA member 3 on the removal direction D12 side, which serves as a fulcrum for bending deformation. Therefore, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, deformation of the side beam portions 31 is suppressed, and displacement of the central beam portion 32 in the thickness direction D3 due to deformation of the side beam portions 31 is restricted. This prevents disengagement of the tip end 32a of the central beam portion 32 from the stopper portion 211 due to displacement of the central beam portion 32 in the thickness direction D3, and prevents the CPA member 3 from moving to the mating assurance position when the housing 2 and the mating housing C1 are not mated. As described above, in this embodiment, there is no need to enclose the entire CPA member 3, and the bending deformation of the CPA member 3 that occurs when the CPA member 3 protrudes in the removal direction D12 from the end E on the removal direction D12 side of the housing 2, and the displacement in the thickness direction D3 between the tip 32a of the central beam portion 32 and the stopper portion 211 that occurs due to the bending deformation, are restricted. This makes it possible to maintain the fit assurance function of the CPA member 3 with a simple configuration.

[0058] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Connector 2 Housing 21 Lock arm 21a Base end of lock arm 21b Tip end of lock arm 211 Stopper portion 211a Contact surface 212 Operation portion 213 Storage portion 214 Arm portion 214a Side wall 22 Guide groove 221 Engagement portion 222 Guide wall 222a First restriction surface 222b Second restriction surface 223 Inner surface 3 CPA member 31 Side beam portion 311 Base portion 311a Engaged portion 311b Inclined surface 312 Wide portion 312a Protruding portion 312b Extension portion 32 Central beam portion 32a Tip end of central beam portion 33 CPA member operation portion 331 Plate-shaped portion 332 Finger hook portion 333 Block portion B Lower end of side wall C Mating connector C1 Mating housing C11 First mating wall portion C12 Second mating wall portion C13 Third mating wall portion C14 Fourth mating wall portion C15 Fifth mating wall portion C16 Opening C17 Mating engagement portion C171 Inclined surface C172 Engagement surface C2 Terminal of mating connector CS Connector structure D1 Mating / removing direction D11 Mating direction D12 Removal direction D2 Width direction D3 Thickness direction E End of housing on removal direction side W1 First wall portion W11 Sliding surface W2 Second wall portion W3 Third wall portion W4 Fourth wall portion W5 Fifth wall portion

Claims

1. A connector comprising: a housing that moves in a mating direction relative to a mating housing of a mating connector to mate with the mating housing; and a CPA member attached to the housing, the CPA member comprising a pair of side beam portions and a central beam portion provided between the pair of side beam portions in a width direction in which the pair of side beam portions are separated from each other, wherein the housing comprises: a lever-shaped lock arm extending from the mating direction side of the housing in a removal direction that is the opposite side to the mating direction; and guide grooves provided on both sides of the lock arm in the width direction for guiding the pair of side beam portions in the mating direction; and the CPA member is configured to be movable in the mating direction relative to the housing from a non-mating assurance position to a mating assurance position which ensures that the housing and the mating housing are mated, the locking arm has a stopper portion configured to be able to abut against a tip of the central beam portion of the CPA member to restrict movement of the CPA member in the mating direction from the non-mating guaranteed position to the mating guaranteed position before the housing is mated with the mating housing, the locking arm is configured to protrude in the removal direction from the end of the housing on the removal direction side when the CPA member is located at the non-mating guaranteed position, and each of the side beam portions has, when the CPA member is in the non-mating guaranteed position, a base having a predetermined width in the width direction and extending along the mating direction in a predetermined region on the mating direction side and a predetermined region on the removal direction side with respect to the end of the housing on the removal direction side when the CPA member is in the non-mating guaranteed position, and a wide portion extending along the mating direction which is provided on one side of the base in a thickness direction perpendicular to the mating direction and the width direction, and has a width in the width direction wider than that of the base.

2. A connector as described in claim 1, wherein the guide groove has an engaging portion that prevents the CPA member from being removed in the removal direction, the base has an engaged portion at a tip portion on the mating direction side that engages with the engaging portion, and the wide portion has an extension portion that extends beyond the tip portion of the base in the mating direction.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking arm has side walls facing the base in the width direction on both sides in the width direction, and lower ends of the side walls facing the sliding surface along which the CPA member slides are inclined so that the distance from the sliding surface increases from the base end of the locking arm in the fitting direction toward the tip end in the removal direction, and at the tip end of the side wall, the distance in the thickness direction from the sliding surface of the lower end of the side wall is greater than the thickness in the thickness direction of the wide portion so as to allow the side beam portion to enter between the lower end of the side wall and the sliding surface when the side beam portion bends toward the central beam portion when the CPA member is attached to the housing, and the side walls and the wide portion are configured to face each other in the width direction at the base end of the locking arm so as to restrict bending of the side beam portion toward the central beam portion when the CPA member is attached to the housing.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said central beam portion is configured so that its width in said width direction increases from its tip end side to its base end side.

5. The guide groove has an engaging portion that restricts the CPA member from being removed in the removal direction, the base portion extends from the end of the CPA member in the removal direction in the fitting direction beyond the tip of the central beam portion, and has an engaged portion at the tip of the base in the fitting direction that engages with the engaging portion, the wide portion extends from the end of the CPA member in the removal direction in the fitting direction beyond the tip of the central beam portion and the tip of the base, the wide portion has a protruding portion that protrudes from the base to the opposite side to the central beam portion in the width direction, and the side beam portion is configured to have a substantially L-shaped portion in cross section perpendicular to the fitting direction from the end side of the CPA member in the removal direction to the position of the tip of the base, A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide groove has a guide wall facing the protrusion of the wide portion in the thickness direction, and the guide wall has a first regulating surface facing the sliding surface in the thickness direction to regulate movement of the CPA member in the thickness direction, and a second regulating surface facing the base in the width direction to regulate movement of the CPA member in the width direction.

Images