Connector unit

Abstract

A connector unit (100) is provided with an attachment member (50) and a connector (10). The attachment member (50) has a through-hole (50A) that penetrates in the front-rear direction, and a seating part (50N) that protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the through-hole (50A). The connector (10) has: a housing (11) that is disposed inside the through-hole (50A); a lock part (12) that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the housing (11); and a flange part (15) that protrudes from the outer surface of the housing (11) and is disposed at a distance in the front-rear direction from the lock part (12). The seating part (50N) is sandwiched between the lock part (12) and the flange part (15). The flange part (15) has a facing surface (15A) that faces the seating part (50N) so as to be able to come into contact therewith. The facing surface (15A) is provided with a protruding part (16) protruding therefrom, and the seating part (50N) is provided with a displacement suppression part (50D) that is in contact with the protruding part (16) and suppresses displacement of the protruding part (16) in the axial direction.

Description

Connector Unit

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector unit.

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration in which an axial seal portion through which a terminal-attached electric wire is inserted is clamped from above and below by a clamped portion of a housing, and the housing is assembled to a metal shield shell (hereinafter referred to as the mounting member).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-191826

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, the pinched portion is inserted into the cylindrical portion of the shield shell. The inner surface of the cylindrical portion is set with a draft angle to allow smooth release from the molding die. Therefore, when the pinched portion is inserted into the cylindrical portion, there is a concern that the pinched portion will rattle due to a gap between the outer surface of the pinched portion and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion with the draft angle, which may cause instability in the adhesion between the shaft seal portion and the pinched portion.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for suppressing rattle of a connector unit relative to a mounting member having a draft angle.

[0006] The connector unit of the present disclosure comprises a mounting member and a connector mounted on the mounting member, wherein the mounting member has a through hole penetrating in the axial direction and a seating portion protruding radially inward from the inner surface of the through hole, and the connector has a housing arranged inside the through hole, an elastically deformable locking portion protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the housing, and a flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the housing and arranged with a gap in the axial direction between it and the locking portion, wherein the seating portion is arranged to be sandwiched between the locking portion and the flange portion, and the flange portion has an opposing surface facing the seating portion so as to be able to come into contact with it, and a protruding convex portion is provided on the opposing surface, and the seating portion is provided with a displacement suppression portion that contacts the convex portion to suppress displacement of the convex portion in the axial direction.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, rattle of the connector relative to the mounting member having a draft angle can be suppressed.

[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector unit of embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a housing. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the housing. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a main portion showing the housing. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting member as seen obliquely from the front. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting member as seen obliquely from the rear. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the mounting member. FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the mounting member. FIG. 9 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a state in the middle of attaching a connector to the mounting member. FIG. 10 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector has been attached to the mounting member. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector has been attached to the mounting member. FIG. 13 is a front view showing a state in which the connector has been attached to the mounting member. FIG. 14 is an enlarged front view of a main portion showing a state in which the connector has been attached to the mounting member.

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. (1) A connector unit comprising: a mounting member and a connector mounted to the mounting member, wherein the mounting member has: a through hole penetrating in the axial direction; and a seating portion protruding radially inward from the inner surface of the through hole, wherein the connector has: a housing disposed inside the through hole, an elastically deformable locking portion protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the housing, and a flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the housing and disposed with a gap in the axial direction between it and the locking portion, wherein the seating portion is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the locking portion and the flange portion, and the flange portion has an opposing surface facing the seating portion so as to be able to come into contact with it, and a protruding convex portion is provided on the opposing surface, and the seating portion is provided with a displacement suppressing portion that contacts the convex portion to suppress displacement of the convex portion in a direction around the axis.

[0010] The connector unit according to (1) can suppress movement of the connector in the axial direction (i.e., rattle) relative to the mounting member by contacting the protrusion with the displacement suppressing portion.

[0011] (2) The connector unit described in (1), wherein the displacement suppression portion is recessed in the seating portion, and the protrusion is positioned opposite the tip of the locking portion and is inserted into the displacement suppression portion.

[0012] In the connector unit according to (2), the displacement restraint section can be given the function of guiding the locking section and the function of inserting the protrusion, thereby making the displacement restraint section multifunctional.

[0013] (3) A connector unit as described in (1) or (2), wherein the housing has a shape in which the width direction is the longitudinal direction, the locking portion is provided at both ends of the housing in the width direction, the housing has a protrusion disposed between the locking portions and protruding in the height direction, and the mounting member has an engaging portion that faces the protrusion and can come into contact with it in the direction in which the housing is removed from the through hole.

[0014] The connector unit according to (3) can prevent the connector from being detached from the mounting member by the locked portion in addition to the locking portion.

[0015] (4) A connector unit described in any one of (1) to (3), wherein the convex portion has a rib shape extending in an extension direction intersecting the axial direction, and the displacement suppression portion has a pair of contact surfaces that contact both ends of the convex portion in the extension direction.

[0016] In the connector unit according to (4), the contact surfaces come into contact with both ends of the projection in the extending direction, so that rattle of the connector relative to the mounting member in the extending direction can be reliably suppressed.

[0017] (5) A connector unit as described in (4), in which an adjacent portion is provided on the inner surface of the through hole, where the base point of the draft slope in one axial direction and the base point of the draft slope in the other axial direction are adjacent, and the contact surface is provided on the adjacent portion.

[0018] In the connector unit according to (5), both ends of the projection in the extension direction can be brought into contact with the base point of the draft gradient, so that the dimension of the projection in the extension direction can be easily set without taking the draft gradient into consideration.

[0019] (6) The connector unit described in (3), wherein the connector has a mating locking portion that engages with the mating connector, the protrusion is located behind the mating locking portion, the mounting member has a tubular portion that is cylindrical and surrounds the through hole, extends in the axial direction, and has the connector located inside, the inner surface of the tubular portion is provided with a groove portion that is recessed and extends in the axial direction so as to avoid the mating locking portion, and the protrusion is located within the groove portion so as to block the groove portion and is engaged with the engaged portion within the groove portion.

[0020] The connector unit according to (6) can fill the gap between the connector and the mounting member by using the protrusion to block the groove that avoids the mating locking portion, and can prevent water from entering the connector side through the groove, for example, when a vehicle to which this connector unit is attached is subjected to high-pressure cleaning.

[0021] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of the connector unit 100 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 14. In the figures, "front side," "rear side," "upper side," "lower side," "right side," and "left side" are represented by "F," "B," "U," "D," "R," and "L," respectively. Note that the directional references are defined for convenience and do not necessarily coincide with the directions when the connector unit 100 is mounted on a vehicle or the like. For example, the up-down direction is not limited to the direction of gravity.

[0022] [Configuration of Connector Unit] The connector unit 100 is provided, for example, in a lamp body B, which is a housing that houses a vehicle lamp unit. A mating connector 70 is fitted into the connector unit 100 (see FIG. 12 ). As shown in FIG. 1 , the connector unit 100 includes a connector 10, a seal member 30, male terminal fittings 40, and an attachment member 50.

[0023] [Connector Configuration] The connector 10 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the connector 10 includes a housing 11, a pair of locking portions 12, a mating locking portion 13, a protrusion 14, a flange 15, and a pair of convex portions 16. The housing 11 includes a hood portion 11A and a terminal accommodating portion 11B. The hood portion 11A is cylindrical, flat in the vertical direction (height direction), and longitudinally extending in the horizontal direction (width direction), and is open to the front. The terminal accommodating portion 11B is connected to the rear end of the hood portion 11A and has multiple cavities 11C extending in the front-rear direction (see Figure 3). The multiple cavities 11C are aligned in the horizontal direction. Only one cavity 11C is shown in Figure 3. A male terminal fitting 40 is accommodated in the cavity 11C (see Figure 9).

[0024] The pair of locking portions 12 are provided on both left and right ends of the outer peripheral surface of the housing 11 in the left-right direction (width direction), protruding outward in the left-right direction. Each locking portion 12 extends rearward in a cantilevered manner and is inclined outward in the left-right direction. Each locking portion 12 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction from a base end (front end) connected to the outer surface of the housing 11 as a base point.

[0025] The mating locking portion 13 engages with the mating connector 70 (see FIG. 12). The mating locking portion 13 is provided on the upper surface of the outer periphery of the housing 11, protruding upward (in the height direction). The mating locking portion 13 is formed so as to incline upward and rearward from its front end as a base point.

[0026] The protrusion 14 is provided on the upper surface of the outer circumferential surface of the housing 11 and protrudes upward (in the height direction). The protrusion 14 is disposed between the pair of locking portions 12. The protrusion 14 is disposed rearward of the mating locking portion 13. The protrusion 14 is formed to extend in the left-right direction. A pair of inclined surfaces 14A is formed on the protrusion 14. These inclined surfaces 14A are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. These inclined surfaces 14A are formed to be inclined rearward and upward from the front end. A pair of extending portions 14B extending forward in a rib-like manner are connected to both left and right ends of the protrusion 14. The pair of extending portions 14B sandwich the mating locking portion 13 from the left and right directions and extend forward of the mating locking portion 13.

[0027] A protrusion 14C is provided on the upper outer surface of the housing 11 to the left of the mating locking portion 13 and the protrusion 14, protruding upward and extending in the front-rear direction like a rib.

[0028] The flange 15 is formed to protrude outward from the outer surface of the housing 11. The dimensions of the flange 15 in the left-right and up-down directions are larger than those of the hood portion 11A. The flange 15 is disposed with a gap in the front-to-rear direction (axial direction) between it and the locking portion 12. A forward-facing opposing surface 15A is formed at the front end of the flange 15. The opposing surface 15A faces the front end (rear end) of the locking portion 12 from behind. A mounting groove 15B is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 15 so as to reduce in diameter in the radial direction.

[0029] A pair of protrusions 16 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the opposing surface 15A. The pair of protrusions 16 protrude forward from the opposing surface 15A toward the locking portion 12. Each protrusion 16 is rib-shaped and extends vertically. The vertical direction in which each protrusion 16 extends is the extension direction. Each protrusion 16 has an inclined surface 16A that slopes inward and forward in the left and right direction from its outer edge in the left and right direction. Each protrusion 16 is positioned rearward facing the leading end (rear end) of the locking portion 12. Each protrusion 16 is positioned outward in the left and right direction relative to the outer peripheral surface of the housing 11 (see FIG. 3). The vertical dimension of each protrusion 16 is slightly larger than the vertical dimension of the locking portion 12 (see FIG. 4).

[0030] [Configuration of Seal Member] The seal member 30 is made of, for example, silicone rubber. As shown in Fig. 1, the seal member 30 has a wide band-like annular shape in the front-rear direction. The seal member 30 is fitted into the mounting groove 15B of the flange 15 (see Fig. 9).

[0031] [Configuration of Male Terminal Fitting] The male terminal fitting 40 is formed by punching and bending a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape. As shown in Fig. 9, the male terminal fitting 40 has a cylindrical male terminal body 40A, a tab 40B protruding forward from the male terminal body 40A, and a barrel portion 40C continuing to the rear of the male terminal body 40A. The barrel portion 40C is crimped and connected to the end of the electric wire W to which a rubber stopper 41 is attached.

[0032] [Configuration of Mounting Member] The mounting member 50 is made of synthetic resin. The mounting member 50 is configured as a part of the lamp body B. In this embodiment, the mounting member 50 is illustrated as a form in which a part of a wall constituting the lamp body B, which is a housing, is cut away so as to surround the front tubular portion 50B and the rear tubular portion 50C. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the mounting member 50 has a plate portion 50M, a through-hole 50A penetrating the plate portion 50M in the front-rear direction, a front tubular portion 50B and a rear tubular portion 50C, which are tubular portions, and a seat portion 50N.

[0033] The plate portion 50M has a plate-like shape and extends in the thickness direction in the front-rear direction. For example, the plate portion 50M is part of a wall portion of the lamp body B. The rear side of the plate portion 50M is the side surrounded by the wall portion of the lamp body B (i.e., the interior of the lamp body B). The through hole 50A penetrates the plate portion 50M, the front-rear tube portion 50B, and the rear-rear tube portion 50C in the front-rear direction. That is, the through hole 50A extends in the front-rear direction (axial direction) from the front end of the front-rear tube portion 50B to the rear end of the rear-rear tube portion 50C. The axial direction of the through hole 50A is the front-rear direction. That is, the through hole 50A penetrates the plate portion 50M in the axial direction (front-rear direction). The through hole 50A is formed to extend in the left-right direction (width direction). That is, the through hole 50A is formed as a horizontally elongated hole.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5 , the front tube portion 50B is cylindrical and extends forward from the plate portion 50M. The inner surface of the front tube portion 50B forms a portion of the through-hole 50A. The front tube portion 50B includes a first groove portion 50F and a pair of locking portions 50G. The first groove portion 50F is recessed upward on the upper surface of the inner surface of the front tube portion 50B and extends in the front-rear direction (axial direction). The pair of locking portions 50G are aligned side by side on the upper surface of the first groove portion 50F. Each locking portion 50G has an inclined surface 50H that slopes downward and forward from its rear end (see FIG. 6 ). A second groove portion 50L is formed in the front tube portion 50B to the left of the first groove portion 50F, extending in the front-rear direction (axial direction) and recessed upward.

[0035] As shown in Figure 6, the rear cylinder portion 50C is cylindrical and extends rearward from the plate portion 50M. The inner surface of the rear cylinder portion 50C forms part of the through-hole 50A. The dimensions of the inner surface of the rear cylinder portion 50C in the up-down and left-right directions are larger than those of the inner surface of the front cylinder portion 50B. In other words, the through-hole 50A is formed in a stepped shape in the front-rear direction (axial direction). The rear cylinder portion 50C is disposed inside the lamp body B.

[0036] The seating portion 50N is formed by extending radially inward from the inner surface of the rear cylindrical portion 50C, which is part of the through-hole 50A. A pair of displacement suppression portions 50D are recessed into the inner surface of the through-hole 50A on both left and right sides of the seating portion 50N. In other words, the displacement suppression portions 50D are recessed into the seating portion 50N. Each displacement suppression portion 50D is provided in a stepped manner so as to expand outward in the left-right direction relative to the through-hole 50A. Each displacement suppression portion 50D has a pair of contact surfaces 50E (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The pair of contact surfaces 50E are located at the upper and lower ends of the displacement suppression portion 50D, parallel to each other and facing each other in the vertical direction (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0037] As shown in FIG. 8 , the mounting member 50 has a mold draft angle D1 in the forward direction (one direction) of the front-to-rear direction and a mold draft angle D2 in the rearward direction (the other direction) of the front-to-rear direction. Specifically, with a boundary line C located at the center of the plate portion 50M in the thickness direction as a boundary, the draft angle D1 is set to widen forward in front of the boundary line C, and the draft angle D2 is set to widen rearward in rear of the boundary line C. The boundary line C is adjacent to the base point of the draft angle D1 in the forward direction (one direction) and the base point of the draft angle D2 in the rearward direction (the other direction) on the rear side. The boundary line C is a so-called parting line. In the front-to-rear direction, the vicinity of the boundary line C, including the boundary line C, is an adjacent portion 50K where the draft angles D1 and D2 in the forward and rearward directions are adjacent in the front-to-rear direction. The boundary line C is formed along the entire circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 50A (see FIG. 6 ). That is, the adjacent portion 50K is also provided over the entire circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 50A. Each contact surface 50E is disposed so as to overlap the adjacent portion 50K in the front-to-rear direction (axial direction). In other words, the contact surface 50E is provided on the adjacent portion 50K and is a part of the adjacent portion 50K.

[0038] [Assembling the Connector to the Mounting Member] Next, an example of a procedure for assembling the connector 10 to the mounting member 50 will be described.

[0039] First, as shown in Figure 9, the seal member 30 is fitted into the mounting groove 15B of the flange portion 15. Then, the male terminal fittings 40 connected to the ends of the electric wires W are inserted into each cavity 11C of the connector 10 from the rear (see Figure 9). When the male terminal fittings 40 are inserted to the correct position in the cavity 11C, lances (not shown) provided in the cavity 11C engage with the male terminal bodies 40A. This prevents the male terminal fittings 40 from slipping out of the cavity 11C. The tabs 40B protrude into the hood portion 11A. The rubber plugs 41 make liquid-tight contact with the inner circumferential surface of the rear end of the cavity 11C.

[0040] Next, the connector 10 with the male terminal fittings 40 attached is attached to the mounting member 50. Specifically, first, the axis of the connector 10 is oriented in the front-rear direction (the axial direction of the through-hole 50A of the mounting member 50). At this time, the first groove 50F of the front-side tubular portion 50B of the mounting member 50 is positioned upward, and the mating locking portion 13 of the connector 10 is oriented upward (see FIG. 1). Then, the housing 11 of the connector 10 is inserted through the through-hole 50A of the mounting member 50 from the rear-side tubular portion 50C side (see FIG. 1). At this time, each locking portion 12 is guided forward (axially) by each displacement restraint portion 50D. Then, each locking portion 12 is pressed inward in the left-right direction by each displacement restraint portion 50D, elastically deforming so as to approach the outer surface of the housing 11.

[0041] 10 , when the leading end (rear end) of each locking portion 12 passes through the displacement restraint portion 50D in the forward (axial) direction, each locking portion 12 elastically returns to its original position. In this manner, the locking portion 12 is locked to the seat portion 50N of the mounting member 50. Thereafter, each protrusion 16 is inserted into each displacement restraint portion 50D from the rear. Specifically, each protrusion 16 is inserted into each displacement restraint portion 50D from the rear while extending in the up-down direction (extension direction) that intersects the front-to-rear direction (axial direction).

[0042] At this time, as shown in Fig. 11 , a pair of contact surfaces 50E of the displacement suppression portion 50D contact both ends of the convex portion 16 in the vertical direction (extension direction) so as to sandwich the convex portion 16 from above and below. In Fig. 11 , the contact surfaces 50E are in a state of expanding in the front-rear and left-right directions, and the convex portion 16 has moved from the rear side of the page to the front side and is inserted into the displacement suppression portion 50D. At this time, each convex portion 16 is positioned so as to overlap the contact surface 50E that overlaps the adjacent portion 50K in the front-rear direction (see Fig. 10 ) and make contact. The seat portion 50N of the mounting member 50 is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the locking portion 12 and the flange portion 15 from the front-rear direction (axial direction) (see Fig. 10 ).

[0043] In this way, the contact surfaces 50E of the displacement restraint portions 50D contact the protrusions 16 from above and below, thereby restraining displacement of the protrusions 16 in the axial direction (vertical direction in the case of the first embodiment). Furthermore, because the contact surfaces 50E of the displacement restraint portions 50D contact the protrusions 16 from above and below at both left-right ends (see FIG. 13 ), rattle of the connector 10 in the axial direction relative to the mounting member 50 can be suppressed. At this time, the flange portion 15 is inserted into the rear tubular portion 50C, and the outer peripheral surface of the seal member 30 contacts the entire inner surface of the rear tubular portion 50C (see FIG. 10 ). Because the contact surfaces 50E of the displacement restraint portions 50D contact the protrusions 16 from above and below at both left-right ends, thereby restraining displacement of the protrusions 16 in the axial direction, rattle of the seal member 30 in the axial direction relative to the rear tubular portion 50C can also be suppressed. This makes it easier to stably maintain the watertightness between the rear tubular portion 50C and the seal member 30.

[0044] The mating locking portion 13 and the protrusion 14 enter the first groove 50F from the rear in this order. The first groove 50F is recessed upward to avoid the mating locking portion 13. This allows the mating locking portion 13 to pass forward through the first groove 50F without getting caught. The inclined surface 14A of the protrusion 14 then contacts the inclined surface 50H of each locked portion 50G from the rear, and the protrusion 14 moves forward while pushing up each locked portion 50G (see FIG. 12 ). Thus, each locked portion 50G faces the protrusion 14 so as to be able to contact it in the rearward direction (removal direction) in which the housing 11 is removed from the through-hole 50A. In other words, the protrusion 14 is locked within the first groove 50F by the locked portion 50G provided within the first groove 50F. When viewed from the axial direction, the protrusion 14 is disposed in the first groove 50F so as to close the first groove 50F (see FIG. 14). At the same time, the protrusion 14C is disposed in the second groove 50L (see FIG. 13).

[0045] Then, the opposing surface 15A of the flange 15 faces and contacts the seating portion 50N of the mounting member 50 from behind. In this way, the housing 11 and flange 15 are positioned inside the through-hole 50A (front cylindrical portion 50B and rear cylindrical portion 50C), completing the assembly of the mounting member 50 and the connector 10. The connector 10 is positioned behind the plate portion 50M (i.e., inside the lamp body B). At this time, the front portion (hood portion 11A) of the housing 11 and the mating locking portion 13 protrude forward of the front cylindrical portion 50B (i.e., outside the lamp body B).

[0046] Next, the mating connector 70 is assembled to the housing 11, which protrudes forward beyond the front tubular portion 50B. Specifically, the mating connector 70 is brought close to the housing 11 from the front. Then, the locked portions 70A of the mating connector 70 are engaged with the mating locking portions 13. In this way, the female terminal fittings 71 attached to the mating connector 70 are electrically connected to the male terminal fittings 40.

[0047] When the opposing surface 15A of the flange 15 faces and contacts the seating portion 50N of the mounting member 50 from the rear, the distance in the front-to-rear direction between the protrusion 14 and each of the locked portions 50G (see FIG. 12) is set smaller than the distance between the tip (rear end) of the locking portion 12 and the seating portion 50N (see FIG. 10). Therefore, by locking the protrusion 14 with each of the locked portions 50G, back-to-back rattle between the locking portion 12 and the plate portion 50M can be suppressed. This makes it difficult for the seal member 30 to shift in the front-to-rear direction relative to the rear tubular portion 50C, making it easier to stably maintain watertightness between the rear tubular portion 50C and the seal member 30.

[0048] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. The connector unit 100 includes a mounting member 50 and a connector 10 mounted to the mounting member 50. The mounting member 50 has a through-hole 50A penetrating in the front-to-rear direction (axial direction) and a seat 50N extending radially inward from the inner surface of the through-hole 50A. The connector 10 includes a housing 11 disposed within the through-hole 50A, an elastically deformable locking portion 12 extending from the outer peripheral surface of the housing 11, and a flange 15 extending from the outer surface of the housing 11 and spaced apart from the locking portion 12 in the front-to-rear direction (axial direction). The seat 50N is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the locking portion 12 and the flange 15. The flange 15 has an opposing surface 15A that faces the seat 50N and is capable of contacting the seat 50N. A protruding convex portion 16 is provided on the opposing surface 15A, and a displacement suppressing portion 50D is provided on the seating portion 50N to come into contact with the convex portion 16 and suppress axial displacement of the convex portion 16. With this configuration, the convex portion 16 comes into contact with the displacement suppressing portion 50D, thereby suppressing axial movement (i.e., rattle) of the connector 10 relative to the mounting member 50.

[0049] The displacement restraint portion 50D is recessed in the seat portion 50N. The protrusion 16 is disposed in a position facing the tip of the locking portion 12 and is inserted into the displacement restraint portion 50D from the rear. This configuration gives the displacement restraint portion 50D the function of guiding the locking portion 12 and the function of inserting the protrusion 16, making the displacement restraint portion 50D multifunctional.

[0050] The housing 11 has a shape with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction (width direction), and one locking portion 12 is provided on each end of the housing 11 in the left-right direction (width direction). The housing 11 has a protrusion 14 that is disposed between the pair of locking portions 12 and protrudes upward (in the height direction). The mounting member 50 has a locked portion 50G that faces and can come into contact with the protrusion 14 in the direction in which the housing 11 is removed from the through hole 50A. With this configuration, the locked portion 50G, in addition to the locking portion 12, can also prevent the connector 10 from being removed from the mounting member 50.

[0051] The protrusion 16 is rib-shaped and extends in an up-down direction (extension direction) that intersects with the front-rear direction (axial direction). The displacement suppression portion 50D has a pair of contact surfaces 50E that contact both ends of the protrusion 16 in the up-down direction (extension direction). With this configuration, the contact surfaces 50E contact both ends of the protrusion 16 in the up-down direction (extension direction), thereby reliably suppressing rattling of the connector 10 relative to the mounting member 50 in the up-down direction (extension direction).

[0052] An adjacent portion 50K is provided on the inner surface of through-hole 50A, where the base point of draft gradient D1 in one direction (axial direction) is adjacent to the base point of draft gradient D2 in the other direction (axial direction). Contact surface 50E is provided on adjacent portion 50K. With this configuration, both ends of protrusion 16 in the up-down direction (extension direction) can be brought into contact with the base points of draft gradients D1 and D2, making it easy to set the dimension of protrusion 16 in the up-down direction (extension direction) without considering draft gradients D1 and D2.

[0053] The connector 10 has a mating locking portion 13 that locks with the mating connector 70. The protrusion 14 is located behind the mating locking portion 13. The mounting member 50 has a front tubular portion 50B that is tubular and surrounds the through hole 50A, extends in the front-to-rear direction (axial direction), and has the connector 10 located inside. The inner surface of the front tubular portion 50B is provided with a first groove 50F that is recessed and extends in the front-to-rear direction (axial direction) to avoid the mating locking portion 13. The protrusion 14 is located within the first groove 50F to block the first groove 50F, and is engaged with a locked portion 50G within the first groove 50F. With this configuration, the protrusion 14 can block the first groove portion 50F, which is designed to avoid the mating locking portion 13, thereby filling the gap between the connector 10 and the mounting member 50. For example, when a vehicle to which this connector unit is attached is subjected to high-pressure cleaning, water can be prevented from entering the connector 10 through the first groove portion 50F.

[0054] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. (1) Unlike the first embodiment, a configuration may be provided in which only one set of locking portion and protrusion facing the locking portion from the rear is provided. (2) Unlike the first embodiment, a configuration in which a mating locking portion is also provided on the underside of the housing. (3) Unlike the first embodiment, a configuration in which female terminal fittings are used as terminal fittings. (4) Unlike the first embodiment, a configuration in which only one engaged portion is provided. (5) Unlike the first embodiment, two locking portions may be arranged side by side in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the housing. (6) Unlike the first embodiment, a configuration in which a protrusion is press-fitted between a pair of contact surfaces of a displacement restraint portion. In this case, the pair of contact surfaces of the displacement restraint portion contact both ends of the protrusion in the vertical direction (extension direction) so as to sandwich the protrusion from above and below.

[0055] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Connector 11: Housing 11A: Hood portion 11B: Terminal accommodating portion 11C: Cavity 12: Locking portion 13: Mating locking portion 14: Projection portion 14A: Inclined surface 14B: Extension portion 14C: Projection portion 15: Flange portion 15A: Opposing surface 15B: Mounting groove 16: Convex portion 16A: Inclined surface 30: Sealing member 40: Male terminal fitting 40A: Male terminal body 40B: Tab 40C: Barrel portion 50: Mounting member 50A: Through hole 50B: Front tubular portion (tubular portion) 50C: Rear tubular portion 50D: Displacement suppressing portion 50E: Contact surface 50F: First groove portion 50G: Locked portion 50H : Inclined surface 50K : Adjacent portion 50L : Second groove portion 50M : Plate portion 50N : Seating portion 70 : Mating connector 70A : Locked portion 100 : Connector unit B : Lamp body C : Boundary line D1, D2 : Draft angle W : Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector unit comprising: a mounting member; and a connector mounted on the mounting member, wherein the mounting member has a through hole passing through in the axial direction, and a seating portion protruding radially inward from the inner surface of the through hole, wherein the connector has: a housing arranged inside the through hole, an elastically deformable locking portion protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the housing, and a flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the housing and arranged with a gap in the axial direction between it and the locking portion, wherein the seating portion is arranged to be sandwiched between the locking portion and the flange portion, and the flange portion has an opposing surface facing the seating portion so as to be able to come into contact with it, and a protruding convex portion is provided on the opposing surface, and the seating portion is provided with a displacement suppressing portion that comes into contact with the convex portion and suppresses displacement of the convex portion in the axial direction.

2. A connector unit as described in claim 1, wherein the displacement restraint portion is recessed in the seating portion, and the protrusion is positioned opposite the tip of the locking portion and is inserted into the displacement restraint portion.

3. A connector unit as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing has a shape in which the width direction is the longitudinal direction, the locking portions are provided at both ends of the housing in the width direction, the housing has a protruding portion disposed between the locking portions and protruding in the height direction, and the mounting member has an engaging portion that faces the protruding portion and can come into contact with it in the direction in which the housing is removed from the through hole.

4. A connector unit as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the convex portion is rib-shaped extending in an extension direction intersecting the axial direction, and the displacement suppression portion has a pair of contact surfaces that contact both ends of the convex portion in the extension direction.

5. A connector unit as described in claim 4, wherein the inner surface of the through hole is provided with an adjacent portion where the base point of the draft gradient in one axial direction and the base point of the draft gradient in the other axial direction are adjacent, and the contact surface is provided on the adjacent portion.

6. A connector unit as described in claim 3, wherein the connector has a mating locking portion that engages with the mating connector, the protrusion is located behind the mating locking portion, the mounting member has a tubular portion that is tubular surrounding the through hole and extends in the axial direction, and the connector is arranged inside, the inner surface of the tubular portion is provided with a groove portion that is recessed and extends in the axial direction so as to avoid the mating locking portion, and the protrusion is located within the groove portion so as to block the groove portion and is engaged with the engaged portion within the groove portion.

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