Connector

Abstract

A vertically connected sub-connector (10) comprises a sub-housing (20), a terminal fitting (40), a cap (50), and an engaging part (11) that holds the cap (50) against the sub-housing (20), wherein the terminal fitting (40) has a tab (41), the engaging part (11) has a cap-side engaging part (53) provided on the cap (50) side and a housing-side engaging part (23) provided on the sub-housing (20) side, one or both of the housing-side engaging part (23) and the cap-side engaging part (53) has a disengaged surface (54) disposed facing downward, the sub-housing (20) has a disengaging surface (27) disposed facing upward at a position overlapping the disengaged surface (54) when viewed from the vertical direction, and one or both of the disengaged surface (54) and the disengaging surface (27) is inclined from the vertical direction in the direction of releasing the engagement between the housing-side engaging part (23) and the cap-side engaging part (53).

Description

connector

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors.

[0002] Conventionally, connectors in which multiple sub-connectors are housed in a frame are known (for example, as described in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3). A cap is attached to each sub-connector until it is housed in the frame. The cap protects a tab protruding forward from the sub-housing of the sub-connector.

[0003] The sub-connectors described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below are pushed one by one into the connector housing of the frame with their caps attached. The engagement between the cap and the sub-connector is released during the process of pushing the sub-connector into the connector housing. The cap, which has been released from its engagement with the sub-connector, is removed after the sub-connector is assembled into the connector housing.

[0004] JP 2011-113716 A JP 2011-119074 A JP 2005-116394 A

[0005] However, when connecting multiple sub-connectors and then storing them in a frame, it is necessary to use a jig to remove the caps one by one before connecting the sub-connectors, which causes the problem that the cap removal work is time-consuming and not easy when connecting the sub-connectors and then storing them in a frame.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that is housed in a frame after being connected and that allows the cap to be easily removed.

[0007] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a sub-connector that is connected in the vertical direction, the sub-connector comprising a sub-housing, terminal fittings accommodated in the sub-housing, a cap attached to the sub-housing, and a locking portion that holds the cap attached to the sub-housing, the terminal fittings having tabs that protrude forward from the sub-housing, the locking portion having a cap side locking portion provided on the cap side and a housing side locking portion provided on the sub-housing side, at least one of the housing side locking portion and the cap side locking portion having a disengagement surface that faces downward, the sub-housing having a locking surface that faces upward at a position that overlaps with the disengagement surface when viewed from the vertical direction, and at least one of the disengagement surface and the locking surface is inclined in the vertical direction in a direction that releases the engagement between the housing side locking portion and the cap side locking portion.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector in which the cap can be easily removed from a sub-connector that is housed in a frame after being connected.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sub-connector according to a first embodiment, showing how the sub-connector is housed in a frame in a coupled state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sub-connector in a coupled state and housed in a frame. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the sub-connector with a cap attached. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the sub-connector. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap and a sub-housing. FIG. 6 is a side view of the sub-housing. FIG. 7 is a front view of the sub-housing. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the sub-connector in a coupled state, showing the locking structure between the sub-housings. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the cap. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged plan cross-sectional view of the sub-connector, showing a state before the cap and the sub-housing are disengaged. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the sub-connector, showing a state before the cap and the sub-housing are disengaged. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged plan cross-sectional view of the sub-connector, showing a state in which the cap and the sub-housing are disengaged. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the sub-connector, showing a state in which the cap and the sub-housing are disengaged.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. [1] A connector of the present disclosure includes a sub-connector coupled in a vertical direction, the sub-connector including a sub-housing, terminal fittings accommodated in the sub-housing, a cap attached to the sub-housing, and a locking portion that holds the cap attached to the sub-housing, the terminal fittings having tabs protruding forward from the sub-housing, the locking portion including a cap-side locking portion provided on the cap and a housing-side locking portion provided on the sub-housing, at least one of the housing-side locking portion and the cap-side locking portion has a disengagement surface that faces downward, the sub-housing has a disengagement surface that faces upward and overlaps the disengagement surface when viewed from a vertical direction, and at least one of the disengagement surface and the disengagement surface is inclined with respect to the vertical direction in a direction that disengages the housing-side locking portion from the cap-side locking portion. According to this configuration, when the sub-connectors are connected vertically, the disengagement surface of one of the two vertically adjacent sub-connectors contacts the disengagement surface of the other sub-connector, and the inclined shape of at least one of the sub-connectors disengages the cap-side locking portion from the housing-side locking portion. Therefore, simply connecting the sub-connectors releases the engagement between the cap-side locking portion and the housing-side locking portion without using a jig, facilitating the cap removal process for sub-connectors housed in a frame after connection. [2] In the connector described in [1] above, the sub-housing may have an upwardly protruding disengagement portion, and the disengagement surface may be formed at a tip of the disengagement portion. This configuration eliminates the need for the housing-side locking portion or the cap-side locking portion, which have the disengagement surface, to protrude in the first direction, thereby avoiding a complex and large locking structure.[3] In the connector described in [1] or [2] above, the cap may have a first positioning portion on its downward surface and a second positioning portion on its upward surface that overlaps the first positioning portion when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and the first and second positioning portions may be shaped to be interlocked with each other. With this configuration, when the sub-connectors are connected, the first positioning portion of one cap and the second positioning portion of the other cap are interlocked with each other, allowing the caps to be removed together. [4] In the connector described in any of [1] to [3] above, the sub-housing and the cap may have guide ribs and guide grooves that extend linearly in the front-to-rear direction and contact each other. With this configuration, the cap and the sub-housing are positioned by contact between the guide rib and the guide groove, and they move parallel to each other in the front-to-rear direction, allowing the cap to be attached or detached while maintaining a distance between the cap and the tab. This prevents contact between the cap and the tab when attaching or detaching the cap.

[0011] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0012] 1 and 2, sub-connectors 10 are housed in a frame 101 in a connected state to form a male connector 100. The state in which multiple sub-connectors 10 are connected is referred to as a connected state. The male connector 100 can be mated with a mating connector (not shown).

[0013] In the following description of each component, the positive X-axis side in each figure is the front side, the negative X-axis side is the rear side, the positive Y-axis side is the left side, the negative Y-axis side is the right side, the positive Z-axis side is the top side, and the negative Z-axis side is the bottom side. The X-axis is parallel to the mating direction with the mating connector. The Z-axis is parallel to the up-down direction of the sub-connector 10. "Parallel" includes a state of being roughly parallel as well as a state of being strictly parallel. The direction references are for convenience only. For example, the bottom side does not necessarily coincide with the bottom side in the direction of gravity when the sub-connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown).

[0014] 1 and 2, the male connector 100 (connector) includes a frame 101, a moving plate 102, and a lever 103. The lever 103 is rotatable around a shaft 104.

[0015] The frame 101 has a rectangular cylindrical shape. Approximately the front half of the frame 101 is a hood portion 105. The hood portion 105 collectively surrounds the tabs 41 of the terminal fittings 40 (described later). The mating connector is fitted inside the hood portion 105. The mating of the mating connector and the male connector 100 proceeds by rotating the lever 103.

[0016] The moving plate 102 is disposed inside the hood portion 105. Before mating with the mating connector, the moving plate 102 is located forward from the rear face of the hood portion 105. The moving plate 102 positions the front end of the tab 41 of the terminal fitting 40. The moving plate 102 moves toward the rear side of the hood portion 105 by rotating the lever 103.

[0017] Approximately the rear half of the frame 101 is a connector accommodating portion 106. The connector accommodating portion 106 accommodates the sub-connector 10 in a connected state. The sub-connector 10 accommodated in the connector accommodating portion 106 is prevented from being removed from the connector accommodating portion 106 by a locking structure (not shown).

[0018] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each sub-connector 10 has a sub-housing 20, terminal fittings 40, a cap 50, and a locking portion 11. The sub-housing 20 holds a plurality of terminal fittings 40. Each terminal fitting 40 has a tab 41 that protrudes forward from the front surface of the sub-housing 20. The cap 50 is attached to the sub-housing 20 and protects the tab 41 from interference by foreign objects, external forces, and the like.

[0019] The locking portion 11 holds the cap 50 attached to the sub-housing 20. The locking portion 11 has a cap-side locking portion 53 provided on the cap 50 side and a housing-side locking portion 23 provided on the sub-housing 20 side. The cap 50 is detached from the sub-connector 10 when the sub-connector 10 is vertically connected.

[0020] As shown in Figure 4, the terminal fitting 40 has a tab 41, a terminal body 42, and a wire connection portion 43. The terminal fitting 40 has an elongated shape in the front-to-rear direction as a whole. The tab 41 extends forward from the terminal body 42. As shown in Figure 2, the terminal body 42 has a primary locking portion 44 and a secondary locking portion 45. The primary locking portion 44 is locked to the lance 29 of the sub-housing 20. The secondary locking portion 45 is locked to the retaining portion 31 of the adjacent sub-housing 20 above in the connected state. The wire connection portion 43 is crimped to the terminal portion of the wire 107.

[0021] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the sub-housing 20 has a housing main body portion 21, a guide rib 22, a housing side locking portion 23, an elastic locking portion 24, a locking protrusion portion 25, an unlocking portion 26, and an unlocking surface 27.

[0022] The housing body 21 has a generally flat shape with a small height relative to its depth in the front-to-rear direction and width in the left-to-right direction. A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 28 are formed in the housing body 21 and aligned in the left-to-right direction. As shown in FIG. 2 , each terminal accommodating chamber 28 opens to both front and rear end surfaces of the sub-housing 20. Each terminal accommodating chamber 28 is formed with a lance 29 for retaining the terminal fitting 40.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of retaining portions 31 are provided on the lower surface 21S of the housing main body 21. Each retaining portion 31 is protruding and arranged at a predetermined pitch in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 5, an opening 32 is formed on the upper surface 21U of the housing main body 21. The opening 32 opens a portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 28 upward in the front-rear direction. In the connected state, each retaining portion 31 enters the terminal accommodating chamber 28 of the adjacent sub-housing 20 below through the opening 32.

[0024] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the guide ribs 22 are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the housing main body 21 and protrude to both the left and right sides. The guide ribs 22 extend linearly from near the front end of the sub-housing 20 toward the rear. The rear end of the guide rib 22 is located rearward of the center of the housing main body 21 in the front-to-rear direction. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the guide rib 22 are parallel to the XY plane. The lower surface of the guide rib 22 is flush with the lower surface 21S of the housing main body 21. The guide ribs 22 fit into guide grooves 55 provided in the cap 50 (see Figure 8). The guide ribs 22 can be inserted into grooves 106M formed in the connector accommodating portion 106 (see Figure 1).

[0025] 3, the housing-side locking portions 23 are formed on the rear end surfaces of the guide ribs 22. The housing-side locking portions 23 protrude outward in the left-right direction from the left and right side surfaces of the housing main body 21. The protrusions 63 of the cap-side locking portions 53 are disposed behind the housing-side locking portions 23.

[0026] 4, a mating portion 33 is formed behind the housing-side locking portion 23. The mating portion 33 is recessed upward from the lower surface 21S of the housing main body 21. In the connected state, the mating portion 33 mates with the lock-releasing portion 26 of the adjacent sub-housing 20 on the lower side.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5 , the unlocking portions 26 are provided at the rear end of the housing main body 21. A pair of unlocking portions 26 are provided at both left and right ends of the housing main body 21. The unlocking portions 26 protrude upward from the upper surface 21U of the housing main body 21. The unlocking portions 26 extend elongatedly in the front-to-rear direction. The unlocking portions 26 are provided at positions overlapping with the mating portions 33 when viewed from the up-down direction (see FIG. 6 ). In the connected state, the unlocking portions 26 are mated with the mating portions 33 of the sub-housing 20 adjacent thereto above (see FIG. 1 ).

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 , the unlocking surface 27 is formed at the tip of the unlocking portion 26. The unlocking surface 27 is formed at the outer corner of the tip of the unlocking portion 26 in the left-right direction. The unlocking surface 27 faces upward. When viewed from the top-bottom direction, the unlocking surface 27 is located at a position overlapping with the unlocked surface 54 of the cap-side locking portion 53 (described later) (see FIG. 11 ). As shown in FIG. 11 , the unlocking surface 27 comes into contact with the unlocked surface 54 of the adjacent cap 50 above when connected. The unlocking surface 27 is inclined in the up-down direction in a direction that disengages the housing-side locking portion 23 from the cap-side locking portion 53. Specifically, the unlocking surface 27 is inclined outward in the left-right direction from the top to the bottom.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, the elastic locking portions 24 are provided on both the left and right ends of the housing main body 21. The elastic locking portions 24 protrude downward in a cantilevered manner from the lower surfaces of the guide ribs 22. The elastic locking portions 24 are elastically deformable outward in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower ends of the elastic locking portions 24 have claw portions 34 that engage with the locking protrusions 25 of the adjacent sub-housing 20 below in the connected state.

[0030] 6 and 7, the locking protrusions 25 are provided on both the left and right sides of the housing main body 21. The locking protrusions 25 extend in the front-rear direction like ribs. The locking protrusions 25 extend from near the front end of the sub-housing 20 to the unlocking portion 26.

[0031] As shown in Figures 5 and 9, the cap 50 includes a tubular portion 51, left and right arm portions 52, a cap-side locking portion 53, a release surface 54, a guide groove 55, a first positioning portion 59, and a second positioning portion 61. The tubular portion 51 has a flattened rectangular tubular shape. As shown in Figure 3, the tubular portion 51 is disposed in front of the sub-housing 20. The tubular portion 51 collectively surrounds all of the tabs 41.

[0032] 3, the arm portions 52 extend rearward from both left and right ends of the tubular portion 51. The left and right arm portions 52 are disposed on the outer sides in the left-right direction of the sub-housing 20. The sub-housing 20 is exposed on both the top and bottom sides between the left and right arm portions 52.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the cap-side locking portion 53 is provided on the inner side of the arm portion 52 in the left-right direction. The cap-side locking portion 53 has an extending portion 62 extending in the front-rear direction and a protruding portion 63 provided at the rear end of the extending portion 62. The extending portion 62 extends in a cantilevered manner from the front side to the rear end. The protruding portion 63 protrudes inward in the left-right direction from the extending portion 62.

[0034] 3, the cap side locking portion 53 is locked to the housing side locking portion 23. The cap side locking portion 53 is elastically deformable in a direction to release the locking (outward in the left-right direction) from a state where it is locked to the housing side locking portion 23.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 9 , the guide groove 55 is formed on the inner side of the arm portion 52 in the left-right direction. The guide groove 55 is provided so as to surround the cap side locking portion 53. As shown in FIG. 8 , the guide groove 55 can be fitted with the guide rib 22 of the sub-housing 20. The guide groove 55 has an upper guide surface 56, a lower guide surface 57, and a guide side surface 58. The guide side surface 58 is formed flush with the extension portion 62 of the cap side locking portion 53 (see FIG. 10 ). The protrusion portion 63 of the cap side locking portion 53 is located behind the guide groove 55.

[0036] As shown in Figure 11, the release surface 54 is formed on the underside of the protrusion 63. The release surface 54 faces diagonally downward. When connected, the release surface 54 comes into contact with the release surface 27 of the adjacent sub-housing 20 on the lower side. The release surface 54 is inclined in the vertical direction in a direction that disengages the housing-side locking portion 23 from the cap-side locking portion 53. Specifically, the release surface 54 is inclined outward in the left-right direction from the top to the bottom.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first positioning portions 59 are provided on the underside (the surface facing downward). The first positioning portions 59 are provided on both the left and right sides of the front end of the cap 50. The first positioning portions 59 are formed between the arm portion 52 and the tubular portion 51. In a connected state, the second positioning portion 61 of the adjacent cap 50 on the lower side can be inserted into the first positioning portion 59 from below. A stopper surface 64 is provided on the front end of the first positioning portion 59. The stopper surface 64 is parallel to the YZ plane.

[0038] As shown in Figures 5 and 9, the second positioning portion 61 is provided on the upper surface (the surface facing upward) at a position that overlaps with the first positioning portion 59 when viewed from the vertical direction. The second positioning portion 61 is provided on both the left and right sides of the front end portion of the cap 50. The second positioning portion 61 is a convex portion that protrudes upward from the tubular portion 51. In the connected state, the second positioning portion 61 is located directly below the first positioning portion 59 of the adjacent cap 50 on the upper side. The second positioning portion 61 has a shape that allows it to fit into the first positioning portion 59.

[0039] Next, an example of the assembly process for the sub-connector 10 will be described. First, the worker attaches the cap 50 to the sub-housing 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 , the worker aligns the guide groove 55 of the cap 50 with the guide rib 22 of the sub-housing 20 and brings the cap 50 and the sub-housing 20 closer together. The guide rib 22 contacts the protrusion 63 of the cap-side locking portion 53, elastically deforming the cap-side locking portion 53 outward in the left-right direction and entering the guide groove 55. The guide rib 22 advances forward along the guide groove 55 while contacting the upper guide surface 56, lower guide surface 57, and side guide surface 58 of the guide groove 55. The cap 50 and the sub-housing 20 move relative to each other in the front-to-rear direction. Eventually, the protrusion 63 of the cap-side locking portion 53 moves rearward over the rear end of the guide rib 22. The cap-side locking portion 53 then elastically returns to its original position, and the protrusion 63 is positioned behind the housing-side locking portion 23. As a result, the protrusion 63 of the cap side locking portion 53 and the housing side locking portion 23 are locked in the front-rear direction, and the cap 50 and the sub-housing 20 are held in the attached state.

[0040] Next, the worker accommodates the terminal fitting 40 in the sub-housing 20. The worker inserts the terminal fitting 40 into the terminal accommodating chamber 28 from the rear. The terminal fitting 40 is prevented from coming out by the lance 29. The tab 41 protrudes forward from the sub-housing 20 and is surrounded by the cylindrical portion 51 of the cap 50.

[0041] Next, an example of the operation of connecting sub-connectors 10 will be described. First, an operator connects the sub-connectors 10 with the caps 50 attached in the vertical direction. When the sub-connectors 10 are brought close to each other and stacked, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the unlocking portion 26 of the lower sub-connector 10 is inserted from below into the mating portion 33 of the upper sub-connector 10. The unlocking surface 27 of the lower sub-connector 10 contacts the unlocked surface 54 of the upper sub-connector 10. At this time, the lower surface 21S of the upper housing main body 21 and the upper surface 21U of the lower housing main body 21 are separated from each other in the vertical direction. The cap-side locking portion 53 of the upper sub-connector 10 is pressed outward in the left-right direction by the unlocking portion 26 of the lower sub-connector 10. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 , the cap-side locking portion 53 is disengaged from the housing-side locking portion 23. At this time, the lower surface 21S of the upper housing body 21 and the upper surface 21U of the lower housing body 21 are in contact with each other.

[0042] 12, the second positioning portion 61 of the lower sub-connector 10 is inserted into the first positioning portion 59 of the upper sub-connector 10. The second positioning portion 61 of the lower sub-connector 10 and the first positioning portion 59 of the upper sub-connector 10 are fitted together. This prevents the cap 50 of the upper sub-connector 10 from coming off the cap 50 of the lower sub-connector 10 even when the engagement with the upper sub-housing 20 is released.

[0043] 8, the elastic locking portion 24 of the upper sub-connector 10 and the locking protrusion 25 of the lower sub-connector 10 are locked in the vertical direction, thereby maintaining the vertically adjacent sub-connectors 10 in a connected state.

[0044] In the coupled state, the retaining portions 31 of the upper sub-connector 10 enter the terminal accommodating chambers 28 of the lower sub-connector 10 and are locked by the secondary locking portions 45 of the terminal fittings 40 of the lower sub-connector 10 (see FIG. 2). In the coupled state, the terminal fittings 40 are reliably restricted from coming off the sub-housing 20 rearward.

[0045] In this way, the worker sequentially connects the sub-connectors 10. After connecting all the sub-connectors 10, the worker releases the cap-side locking portion 53 of the sub-connector 10 at the bottom and removes the caps 50 of all the connected sub-connectors 10 at once. The caps 50 cannot be removed unless all the sub-connectors 10 are connected. At this time, the cap 50 moves parallel to the sub-housing 20 in the front-to-rear direction due to contact between the guide rib 22 and the guide groove 55. The tubular portion 51 of the cap 50 is removed forward from the sub-housing 20 without contacting the tabs 41 of the terminal fittings 40. This completes the work of connecting the sub-connectors 10.

[0046] The worker accommodates the sub-connector 10 in the coupled state in the frame 101. The guide rib 22 of the sub-connector 10 in the coupled state is inserted into the groove 106M of the connector accommodation portion 106. The front end of the tab 41 of the terminal fitting 40 is placed on the moving plate 102. The sub-connector 10 in the coupled state is prevented from being removed from the connector accommodation portion 106 by a locking structure (not shown). In this way, the assembly work of the male connector 100 is completed.

[0047] Next, the operation and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The sub-connector 10 is connected in the vertical direction. The sub-connector 10 includes a sub-housing 20, terminal fittings 40, a cap 50, and a locking portion 11. The terminal fittings 40 are housed in the sub-housing 20. The cap 50 is attached to the sub-housing 20. The locking portion 11 holds the cap 50 attached to the sub-housing 20. The terminal fittings 40 have tabs 41 protruding forward from the sub-housing 20. The locking portion 11 includes a cap-side locking portion 53 provided on the cap 50 side and a housing-side locking portion 23 provided on the sub-housing 20 side. The cap-side locking portion 53 has a downward-facing unlocking surface 54. The sub-housing 20 has an upward-facing unlocking surface 27 that overlaps with the unlocking surface 54 when viewed from the vertical direction. The unlocked surface 54 and the unlocking surface 27 are inclined in the vertical direction in a direction that releases the lock between the housing side locking portion 23 and the cap side locking portion 53 .

[0048] With this configuration, when sub-connectors 10 are connected in the vertical direction, the unlocking surface 54 of the upper of two vertically adjacent sub-connectors 10 comes into contact with the unlocking surface 27 of the lower sub-connector 10, and the inclined shapes of the unlocking surface 54 and the unlocking surface 27 release the locked state between the cap-side locking portion 53 and the housing-side locking portion 23. Therefore, the locked state between the cap-side locking portion 53 and the housing-side locking portion 23 is released simply by connecting the sub-connectors 10 without using a jig, and the cap 50 can be easily removed from the sub-connectors 10 that are housed in the frame 101 after connection.

[0049] The sub-housing 20 has an upwardly protruding release portion 26. The release surface 27 is formed at the tip of the release portion 26. With this configuration, the cap-side locking portion 53 having the release surface 54 does not need to protrude downward, which prevents the locking portion 11 from becoming complicated and large.

[0050] Each cap 50 has a first positioning portion 59 on its underside and a second positioning portion 61 on its top side at a position that overlaps the first positioning portion 59 when viewed from the up-down direction. The first positioning portion 59 and the second positioning portion 61 are shaped to be able to fit together. With this configuration, when the sub-connector 10 is connected in the up-down direction, the first positioning portion 59 of the lower cap 50 of two vertically adjacent caps 50 fits into the second positioning portion 61 of the lower cap 50, allowing multiple caps 50 to be removed together.

[0051] The sub-housing 20 and the cap 50 have guide ribs 22 and guide grooves 55 that extend linearly in the front-to-rear direction and come into contact with each other. With this configuration, the cap 50 and the sub-housing 20 are positioned by contact between the guide ribs 22 and the guide grooves 55, and they move parallel to each other in the front-to-rear direction, so that the cap 50 can be attached or detached while maintaining a distance between the cap 50 and the tab 41. Therefore, contact between the cap 50 and the tab 41 can be prevented when attaching or detaching the cap 50.

[0052] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the above embodiment, the cap-side locking portion 53 is elastically deformable in the unlocking direction. However, in other embodiments, the housing-side locking portion may be elastically deformable. In this case, a disengagement surface may be formed on the housing-side locking portion. Furthermore, both the cap-side locking portion and the housing-side locking portion may be elastically deformable. In this case, a disengagement surface may be formed on both the cap-side locking portion and the housing-side locking portion. In the above embodiment, the first positioning portion 59 is a recess and the second positioning portion 61 is a protrusion. However, in other embodiments, the first positioning portion may be a protrusion and the second positioning portion may be a recess. In the above embodiment, the guide rib 22 is formed on the sub-housing 20 and the guide groove 55 is formed on the cap 50. However, in other embodiments, the guide rib may be formed on the cap and the guide groove may be formed on the sub-housing. Furthermore, the guide groove may be formed by two adjacent sub-housings when connected.

[0053] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Sub-connector 11...Latching portion 20...Sub-housing 21...Housing main body portion 21S...Lower surface 21U...Upper surface 22...Guide rib 23...Housing side locking portion 24...Elastic locking portion 25...Lock protrusion portion 26...Unlocking portion 27...Unlocking surface 28...Terminal accommodating chamber 29...Lance 31...Removal prevention portion 32...Opening 33...Fitting portion 34...Claw portion 40...Terminal fitting 41...Tab 42...Terminal main body portion 43...Wire connection portion 44...Primary locking portion 45...Secondary locking portion 50...Cap 51...Cylindrical portion 52...Arm portion 53...Cap side locking portion 54...Unlocked surface 55...Guide groove 56...Guide upper surface 57...Guide lower surface 58...Guide side surface 59...First positioning portion 61...Second positioning portion 62: Extension portion 63: Protrusion portion 64: Stopper surface 100: Male connector (connector) 101: Frame 102: Moving plate 103: Lever 104: Shaft portion 105: Hood portion 106: Connector accommodating portion 106M: Groove 107: Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector comprising sub-connectors connected in a vertical direction, the sub-connectors comprising a sub-housing, terminal fittings housed in the sub-housing, a cap attached to the sub-housing, and a locking portion for holding the cap attached to the sub-housing, the terminal fittings having tabs protruding forward from the sub-housing, the locking portion having a cap-side locking portion provided on the cap side and a housing-side locking portion provided on the sub-housing side, at least one of the housing-side locking portion and the cap-side locking portion having a disengagement surface facing downward, the sub-housing having a disengagement surface facing upward at a position overlapping the disengagement surface when viewed in a vertical direction, and at least one of the disengagement surface and the disengagement surface being inclined in a vertical direction so as to disengage the housing-side locking portion from the cap-side locking portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the sub-housing has an upwardly protruding release portion, and the release surface is formed at the tip of the release portion.

3. A connector as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cap has a first positioning portion provided on the downward-facing surface and a second positioning portion provided on the upward-facing surface at a position that overlaps with the first positioning portion when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are shaped to be able to fit together.

4. A connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sub-housing and the cap have guide ribs and guide grooves that extend linearly in the front-rear direction and come into contact with each other.

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