Connector

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to facilitate locking / unlocking of a housing with respect to a mating housing.　This connector (10) is provided with: a housing (20) that fits with the mating housing (110); and a lock member (40) that is assembled to the housing (20) and locked to the mating housing (110). The lock member (40) moves relative to the housing (20) in a fitting direction (front-rear direction) between the housing (20) and the mating housing (110), between a lock position at which the lock member is locked to the mating housing (110) and an unlock position at which the locking to the mating housing (110) is released.

Description

connector

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors.

[0002] The male connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a housing and a locking arm supported on the outer surface of the housing. When the housing of the male connector is inserted into the housing of the female connector, the locking arm engages with a locking portion provided on the housing of the female connector, thereby establishing a locked state. By bending the locking arm in a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction of the two housings, the locked state between the locking arm and the locking portion is released.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-310205

[0004] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, when the male connector housing is to be detached from the female connector housing, it is necessary to simultaneously perform an operation of bending the locking arm in a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction of the two housings and an operation of moving the male connector housing away from the female connector housing in the insertion / removal direction. For such a configuration, a configuration that allows for an easy operation of releasing the locking of the two housings is desired. The connector of the present disclosure was developed based on the above circumstances, and aims to easily release the locking of the housing from the mating housing.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing that mates with a mating housing, and a locking member that is assembled to the housing and engages with the mating housing, wherein the locking member moves relative to the housing in the mating direction between a locking position in which it engages with the mating housing and a release position in which it is no longer engaged with the mating housing.

[0006] According to the present disclosure, a connector can be realized that allows the housing to be easily released from the mating housing.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector of Example 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1 as seen from above. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1 as seen from below. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mating connector of Example 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of the mating connector of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of both connectors in a locked state as seen from below. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the mating connector side in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of both connectors in a locked state. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view of both connectors in an unlocked state as seen from below. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the mating connector side in FIG. 9.

[0008] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A connector of the present disclosure includes: (1) a housing that mates with a mating housing; and a locking member that is assembled to the housing and engages with the mating housing, wherein the locking member moves relative to the housing in the mating direction between a locking position where it engages with the mating housing and a release position where it is released from the engagement with the mating housing.

[0009] According to the configuration of the present disclosure, by moving the locking member relative to the housing in the mating direction between the housing and the mating housing, it is possible to move the locking member from a locked position, in which the locking member engages with the mating housing, to a released position, in which the locking member is released from the mating housing. Therefore, the locking of both housings can be easily released by the simple operation of moving the locking member in the mating direction.

[0010] (2) In (1), it is preferable that the locking member has a locking arm that is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction, the locking arm has a locking portion that locks with a locked portion of the mating housing, the housing has a holding portion that holds the locking portion when the locking member is in the released position, and the locking portion is held by the holding portion at a position shifted in the perpendicular direction from the locked portion. With this configuration, the locking portion of the locking arm does not interfere with the locked portion of the mating housing when the housing is removed from the mating housing. Therefore, the two housings can be smoothly released from each other.

[0011] (3) In (2), it is preferable that the housing has a pair of wall portions between which the locking arm fits, one of the wall portions is formed with a second locked portion with which the locking arm is locked, the locking arm has a second locking portion that locks with the second locked portion, the holding portion is formed with the second locked portion and the other wall portion, when the locking member is in the released position, the second locking portion contacts the other wall portion with the second locking portion locked with the second locked portion, so that the locking portion is held in a position shifted relative to the locked portion in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, and the other wall portion is elastically deformable in the direction opposite to the one wall portion. With this configuration, it is easy to form a clearance between the locking arm and the pair of wall portions, and locking and unlocking between the second locking portion and the second locked portion can be performed smoothly.

[0012] (4) In any of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the housing has a third locking portion that locks with the locking member in a position different from the release position, and the locking member has a third locked portion that locks with the third locking portion. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the locking member from moving inadvertently relative to the housing when moving the connector.

[0013] (5) In (4), it is preferable that the locking member has a locking arm that is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction, the locking arm has a locking portion that locks with the locked portion of the mating housing, and when the locking portion locks with the locked portion when the housing and the mating housing are mated, the locked state of the third locking portion with the third locked portion is maintained. With this configuration, the locking member can be locked to the mating housing while maintaining the relative positions of the housing and the locking member.

[0014] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] [Example 1] Example 1 embodying the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. In Example 1, with regard to the front-rear direction, the F direction in Figures 1 and 4 is defined as the front. The front is the direction in which the housing 20 is fitted into the mating housing 110. With regard to the up-down direction, the H direction in Figures 1 and 4 is defined as the upward direction. With regard to the left-right direction, the R direction in Figures 1 and 4 is defined as the rightward direction.

[0015] A connector 10 according to the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 1. The connector 10 includes a housing 20, a pair of terminal fittings 30, and a locking member 40, as shown in Figs.

[0016] The connector 10 is mated with a mating connector 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Specifically, the housing 20 is mated with a mating housing 110 of the mating connector 100. As shown in FIG. 8, mating of the housing 20 with the mating housing 110 connects the terminal fittings 30 to the mating terminal fittings 120. When the housings 20, 110 are mated, the locking member 40 engages with the mating housing 110, thereby locking the connectors 10, 100 together.

[0017] (Housing 20) The housing 20 is, for example, a female housing. The housing 20 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the housing 20 has a main body 21 that accommodates the terminal fittings 30.

[0018] The main body 21 has a flat shape that is long in the front-rear direction. A pair of accommodating portions 22 that accommodate the terminal fittings 30 are formed in the main body 21. The pair of accommodating portions 22 are aligned in the left-right direction. The accommodating portions 22 are long in the front-rear direction along the longitudinal direction of the main body 21. The accommodating portions 22 are open upward except for a portion that is covered by an upper wall portion 28, which will be described later.

[0019] The main body 21 includes a pair of first front wall portions 23, a pair of second front wall portions 24 (described later), and a pair of rear wall portions 25. The first front wall portions 23 correspond to "one wall portion" in this disclosure. The second front wall portions 24 correspond to "the other wall portion" in this disclosure.

[0020] The pair of first front wall portions 23 are left and right outer walls at the front end of the main body 21. The outer wall surfaces of the first front wall portions 23 are surfaces perpendicular to the left-right direction. The pair of rear wall portions 25 are left and right outer walls at the rear end of the main body 21. The outer wall surfaces of the rear wall portions 25 are surfaces perpendicular to the left-right direction. The first front wall portions 23 are located more inward in the left-right direction than the rear wall portions 25. The main body 21 has a stepped wall portion 26 exposed forward between the first front wall portion 23 and the rear wall portion 25.

[0021] The main body 21 has a front wall 27 that forms the front wall of the accommodating portion 22. The front wall 27 is formed with a pair of holes 27A through which the mating terminal fittings 120 can be inserted. The holes 27A are continuous with the accommodating portion 22. The front wall 27 protrudes outward in the left-right direction beyond the pair of first front wall portions 23.

[0022] The main body 21 includes an upper wall 28 that is continuous with the upper edge of the front wall 27 and forms a ceiling wall on the front end side of the main body 21. The left-right width of the upper wall 28 is the same as the left-right width of the front wall 27. The upper wall 28 forms a ceiling wall of the front portion of the storage section 22 (the portion forward from near the center position between the front wall 27 and the stepped wall 26 in the front-rear direction). The upper wall 28 is formed with a recess 28A (see FIG. 2) that is recessed downward at the center in the left-right direction. The recess 28A is open upward and rearward.

[0023] The pair of second front wall portions 24 are respectively connected to the left and right edges of the upper wall portion 28. The outer wall surfaces of the second front wall portions 24 are surfaces perpendicular to the left-right direction. The left and right second front wall portions 24 are respectively connected to the left and right edges of the front wall portion 27. The second front wall portions 24 face and are spaced apart in the left-right direction from a front portion of the first front wall portion 23 (a portion forward of and near the center position between the front wall portion 27 and the stepped wall portion 26 in the front-rear direction).

[0024] A locking arm 42 of a locking member 40, which will be described later, fits between the opposing first front wall portion 23 and second front wall portion 24. A recess 23A that is long in the front-to-rear direction is formed at the lower end of the outer surface of the first front wall portion 23 (the surface facing the second front wall portion 24). The recess 23A is formed on the front end side of the first front wall portion 23. The recess 23A is open outward in the left-to-right direction and downward. The front end of the recess 23A is located slightly rearward of the front wall portion 27. The front end surface of the recess 23A is a surface that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. The rear end of the recess 23A is located slightly rearward of the second front wall portion 24. The rear end surface of the recess 23A is an inclined surface that becomes increasingly recessed toward the front.

[0025] A second locked portion 23B is formed within the recess 23A of the first front wall 23. The second locked portion 23B is engaged with a lock arm 42 of the locking member 40 (described later). The second locked portion 23B is formed in a position slightly rearward of the front end of the recess 23A. The second locked portion 23B protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the rear surface of the recess 23A. The second locked portion 23B protrudes in the left-right direction to the same position as the outer wall surface of the first front wall 23. The second locked portion 23B is connected to the upper rear surface of the recess 23A. The corners between the rear end surface and the left-right end surface of the second locked portion 23B are formed with inclined surfaces that become smaller in depth as they extend forward.

[0026] The inner surface of the second front wall portion 24 (the surface facing the first front wall portion 23) is formed with a first inner surface 24A, a second inner surface 24B, and a third inner surface 24C. The first inner surface 24A, the second inner surface 24B, and the third inner surface 24C are arranged in this order from rear to front. The first inner surface 24A is a surface perpendicular to the left-right direction. A sloped surface whose recession decreases toward the front is formed at the rear end of the first inner surface 24A. The second inner surface 24B is formed on the inner surface of the second front wall portion 24 slightly rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction. The second inner surface 24B is a sloped surface whose recession decreases toward the front. The second inner surface 24B is a surface parallel to the up-down direction. The third inner surface 24C is a surface perpendicular to the left-to-right direction. The third inner surface 24C is located inward in the left-to-right direction (toward the first front wall portion 23) from the first inner surface 24A.

[0027] The second front wall portion 24 is elastically deformable. Specifically, the second front wall portion 24 is elastically deformable in the opposite direction (outward in the left-right direction) from the first front wall portion 23. For example, a portion of the second front wall portion 24 itself may be elastically deformable in the opposite direction from the first front wall portion 23. Alternatively, the second front wall portion 24 may be configured to be displaced in the opposite direction from the first front wall portion 23 due to elastic deformation of the front wall portion 27 or the upper wall portion 28 or elastic deformation of a boundary portion with the front wall portion 27 or the upper wall portion 28.

[0028] A third locking portion 25A that locks onto the locking member 40 is formed on the rear wall portion 25. The third locking portion 25A is a protrusion that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the outer wall surface of the rear wall portion 25. The third locking portion 25A is a portion that fixes the position of the locking member 40 relative to the housing 20 (the position shown in FIG. 1). The third locking portion 25A is formed at the lower end of the rear wall portion 25 and slightly forward of the center in the front-to-rear direction.

[0029] A protrusion 25B that regulates the separation of the locking member 40 from the housing 20 is formed on the rear wall 25. The protrusion 25B is a projection that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the outer wall surface of the rear wall 25. The protrusion 25B is formed at the upper end of the rear wall 25, slightly forward of the rear end. An inclined surface is formed at the upper end of the protrusion 25B, the amount of recession inward in the left-right direction decreasing as it extends downward.

[0030] (Terminal Fitting) As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the terminal fitting 30 is connected to the electric wire 50. The terminal fitting 30 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate or the like. The terminal fitting 30 is, for example, a female terminal. The terminal fitting 30 has a terminal connection portion 31, a wire barrel 32, and an insulation barrel 33. The terminal connection portion 31 has a rectangular cylindrical shape. The terminal connection portion 31 is electrically connected to the mating terminal fitting 120 when the connector 10 and the mating connector 100 are mated.

[0031] The electric wire 50 has a conductive core wire 51 and an insulating coating 52 surrounding the core wire 51. The front end of the core wire 51 is exposed by removing the insulating coating 52.

[0032] The wire barrel 32 is electrically connected by crimping to the core wire 51 exposed from the insulating coating 52. Each insulation barrel 33 is wound around the front end of the insulating coating 52 of the electric wire 50. The insulation barrel 33 is mechanically connected to the insulating coating 52 by crimping.

[0033] (Locking Member) As shown in Fig. 1, the locking member 40 is assembled to the housing 20. The locking member 40 engages with the mating housing 110 to lock the connector 10 and the mating connector 100. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the locking member 40 has a main body 41 and a pair of locking arms 42.

[0034] The main body 41 includes an upper wall 43, a pair of side walls 44, and a front wall 45. The upper wall 43 is a rectangular plate that is long in the front-to-rear direction. The pair of side walls 44 are connected to the left and right edges of the upper wall 43, respectively. The plate surfaces of the side walls 44 are perpendicular to the left-to-right direction.

[0035] A recess 44A that is long in the front-rear direction is formed at the lower end of the inner surface (the surface on the other side wall 44 side) of the side wall 44. The recess 44A is formed at a position near the front end of the side wall 44. The recess 44A is open inward in the left-right direction and downward.

[0036] A third locked portion 44B, which engages with the third locking portion 25A of the housing 20, is formed within the recess 44A of the side wall 44. The third locked portion 44B is formed in a position slightly rearward of the front end of the recess 44A. The third locked portion 44B protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the rear surface of the recess 44A in the left-right direction.

[0037] A groove 44C that is long in the front-rear direction is formed on the rear end side of the inner surface (the surface on the other side wall 44 side) of the side wall 44. The groove 44C is open inward in the left-right direction. The protrusion 25B of the housing 20 fits into the groove 44C, restricting the separation of the locking member 40 from the housing 20.

[0038] The front wall portion 45 is continuous with the front edge of the upper wall portion 43 and the front edges of the pair of side wall portions 44. A rectangular opening 45A penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed in the center of the front wall portion 45 in the left-right direction. A plate portion 46 protruding forward from the front edge is formed in the upper wall portion 43. The plate portion 46 protrudes forward from the center of the left-right direction of the upper wall portion 43. The plate portion 46 is located between the pair of locking arms 42 when viewed from the top-bottom direction.

[0039] A pair of locking arms 42 protrude forward from the main body 41. Specifically, the locking arms 42 protrude forward from both left and right ends of the front wall 45 of the main body 41 (positions on either side of the opening 45A). The locking arms 42 are elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction (front-rear direction) of the housings 20, 110 (left-right direction). The locking arms 42 include an arm portion 42A and a locking portion 42B. The arm portion 42A has a strip shape that is long in the front-rear direction. An inclined surface 42C is formed on the outer side of the tip of the arm portion 42A in the left-right direction, and the amount of recession toward the inside in the left-right direction increases as it moves forward.

[0040] The locking portion 42B protrudes downward from a position slightly rearward of the tip of the arm portion 42A (a position rearward of the inclined surface 42C). The locking portion 42B has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The rear surface 42D of the locking portion 42B is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. An inclined surface 42E is formed on the outer left-to-right portion of the front surface of the locking portion 42B, which is gradually recessed inward in the left-to-right direction as it moves forward. The inner surface 42F of the locking portion 42B (the surface on the other locking portion 42B side) is perpendicular to the left-to-right direction. The inner surface 42F is flush with the inner surface of the arm portion 42A (the surface on the other arm portion 42A side).

[0041] A second locking portion 42G that protrudes inward in the left-right direction (toward the other locking portion 42B) is formed on the front and lower ends of the inner surface 42F of the locking portion 42B. The second locking portion 42G locks onto the second locked portion 23B of the housing 20. The second locking portion 42G has a tapered shape that narrows inward in the left-right direction when viewed from the top-bottom direction.

[0042] 1 , the locking member 40 is assembled to the housing 20 so as to cover it from above. The upper wall portion 43 and plate portion 46 of the locking member 40 close the opening at the upper end of the accommodating portion 22 of the housing 20. The side wall portions 44 of the locking member 40 face the first front wall portion 23 and the rear wall portion 25 of the housing 20 from the outside in the left-right direction. The locking arm 42 is inserted between the first front wall portion 23 and the second front wall portion 24 of the housing 20.

[0043] 6, the third engaging portion 25A of the housing 20 fits into the recess 44A of the side wall portion 44 of the locking member 40. The protrusion 25B of the housing 20 fits into the groove 44C of the locking member 40.

[0044] The locking member 40 moves in the front-rear direction relative to the housing 20. The plate portion 46 of the locking member 40 moves in the front-rear direction along the recessed portion 28A. The third engaging portion 25A of the housing 20 moves in the front-rear direction along the recessed portion 44A of the side wall portion 44 of the locking member 40. The protruding portion 25B of the housing 20 moves in the front-rear direction along the groove portion 44C of the locking member 40.

[0045] (Mating Connector) As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the mating connector 100 includes a mating housing 110 and a pair of mating terminal fittings 120. The mating housing 110 is, for example, a male housing. The mating housing 110 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The mating housing 110 includes a terminal support wall 111 and a hood portion 112. The hood portion 112 extends from the terminal support wall 111 to one side in the wall thickness direction. Locked portions 114 that protrude inward in the left-right direction are formed on the left and right side walls 113 of the hood portion 112. The locked portions 114 are formed slightly rearward of the center of the side walls 113 in the front-to-rear direction. The locked portions 114 have a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0046] The mating terminal fitting 120 is, for example, a male terminal, and has a tab portion 121 disposed within the hood portion 112.

[0047] 6 and 7 , the mating process of the connectors 10, 100 will be described. The third locking portion 25A of the housing 20 locks into the third locked portion 44B of the locking member 40, thereby restricting the locking member 40 from moving forward relative to the housing 20. This allows the connector 10 to be mated with the mating connector 100 without most of the locking arm 42 entering between the first front wall portion 23 and the second front wall portion 24 and undergoing elastic deformation. As a result, when the housing 20 is mated with the mating housing 110, the third locking portion 25A remains locked to the third locked portion 44B when the locking portion 42B locks into the locked portion 114.

[0048] When the connector 10 is inserted into the hood portion 112 of the mating connector 100, the inclined surface 42E at the front end of the engaging portion 42B of the locking arm 42 comes into contact with the locked portion 114. The arm portion 42A of the locking arm 42 is positioned below the locked portion 114. The engaging portion 42B of the locking arm 42 is positioned at the same height as the locked portion 114 in the vertical direction. When the inclined surface 42E is pressed by the locked portion 114, the locking arm 42 elastically deforms inward in the left-right direction. When the engaging portion 42B overcomes the locked portion 114, the locking arm 42 elastically returns to its original position, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the engaging portion 42B engages with the locked portion 114. The engaging portion 42B may come into contact with the front surface of the locked portion 114 or may be positioned forward and close to the locked portion 114. This completes the mating of the connector 10 with the mating connector 100.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 8 , when the housing 20 and the mating housing 110 are fitted together, the terminal connecting portions 31 of the terminal fittings 30 are connected to the tab portions 121 of the mating terminal fittings 120 .

[0050] When the connectors 10, 100 are completely mated, the locking member 40 is positioned in a locked position where the locking portion 42B is locked with the locked portion 114. The front wall portion 27 of the housing 20 comes into contact with the rear surface of the terminal support wall 111 of the mating housing 110, thereby stopping the connector 10 in its front position.

[0051] (Connector Disengagement Process) The locking member 40 moves relative to the housing 20 in the mating direction (front-rear direction) between the housing 20 and the mating housing 110, between a locked position where it is locked to the mating housing 110 and a released position where it is released from the locking to the mating housing 110. From the mated state of the connectors 10, 100 shown in Figures 6 and 7, the locking member 40 is moved forward relative to the housing 20. As the third locked portion 44B moves forward, climbing over the third locking portion 25A, the locked state with the third locking portion 25A is released, and the locking member 40 becomes movable forward relative to the housing 20.

[0052] As the locking member 40 moves forward relative to the housing 20, the locking arm 42 moves forward along the first inner surface 24A of the second front wall 24 of the housing 20 and the outer wall surface of the first front wall 23. The tip of the locking arm 42 (such as the inclined surface 42E) contacts the second inner surface 24B and is guided inward in the left-right direction, causing the locking arm 42 to elastically deform inward in the left-right direction. The locking portion 42B (more specifically, the second locking portion 42G) enters the recess 23A of the housing 20 and moves forward. As the locking member 40 further moves forward along the third inner surface 24C and the outer wall surface of the first front wall 23, the locking portion 42B (more specifically, the second locking portion 42G) overcomes the second locked portion 23B of the housing 20 and locks with the second locked portion 23B, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , and the locking member 40 is positioned in the released position.

[0053] The housing 20 has a holding portion 29 that holds the engaging portion 42B when the locking member 40 is in the released position. When the locking member 40 is in the released position, the engaging portion 42B is held by the holding portion 29 at a position offset in the orthogonal direction (left-right direction) from the engaged portion 114. The holding portion 29 is composed of the second engaged portion 23B and the second front wall portion 24. When the locking member 40 is in the released position, the second engaging portion 42G of the locking arm 42 is engaged with the second engaged portion 23B and contacts the inner wall surface of the second front wall portion 24, thereby holding the engaging portion 42B at a position offset inward in the direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the mating direction (front-rear direction) from the engaged portion 114. In other words, the engaging portion 42B is positioned so as not to overlap the engaged portion 114 in the front-rear direction.

[0054] The locking member 40 is stopped at the front when, for example, the tip of the locking arm 42 comes into contact with the front wall portion 27 of the housing 20 from behind. The locking member 40 is stopped at the front when, for example, the front wall portion 45 comes into contact with the locked portion 114 of the mating housing 110 from behind. The locking member 40 is stopped at the front when, for example, the third locking portion 25A of the housing 20 comes into contact with the rear end of the recessed portion 44A from the front. The locking member 40 is stopped at the front when, for example, the protruding portion 25B of the housing 20 comes into contact with the rear end of the groove portion 44C from the front.

[0055] When the connector 10 is moved rearward relative to the mating connector 100 with the locking member 40 in the released position, the locking portion 42B of the locking arm 42 does not interfere with the locked portion 114 of the mating housing 110. Therefore, the connector 10 can be detached from the mating connector 100 simply by moving the connector 10 rearward relative to the mating connector 100.

[0056] (Operation and Effect of First Embodiment) The connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 20 that mates with a mating housing 110, and a locking member 40 that is assembled to the housing 20 and engages with the mating housing 110. The locking member 40 moves relative to the housing 20 in the mating direction (front-rear direction) between a locking position where it engages with the mating housing 110 and a release position where it is no longer engaged with the mating housing 110.

[0057] According to this configuration, by moving the locking member 40 relative to the housing 20 in the mating direction (front-rear direction) between the housing 20 and the mating housing 110, it is possible to move the locking member 40 from a locked position where it engages with the mating housing 110 to a released position where it is no longer engaged with the mating housing 110. Therefore, the engagement of both housings 20, 110 can be easily released by the simple operation of moving the locking member 40 in the mating direction (front-rear direction).

[0058] In the connector 10 of the first embodiment, the locking member 40 has a locking arm 42 that is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction (front-rear direction). The locking arm 42 has a locking portion 42B that locks with the locked portion 114 of the mating housing 110. The housing 20 has a retaining portion 29 that holds the locking portion 42B when the locking member 40 is in the unlocked position. When the locking member 40 is in the unlocked position, the locking portion 42B is retained by the retaining portion 29 at a position offset in the orthogonal direction (left-right direction) from the locked portion 114. This configuration prevents the locking portion 42B of the locking arm 42 from interfering with the locked portion 114 of the mating housing 110 when the housing 20 is removed from the mating housing 110. This allows the housings 20, 110 to be smoothly unlocked.

[0059] In the connector 10 of the first embodiment, the housing 20 has a pair of walls (first front wall 23, second front wall 24) between which the locking arm 42 fits. For example, the housing 20 has two pairs of walls. One of the pair of walls (first front wall 23) is formed with a second locked portion 23B with which the locking arm 42 locks. The locking arm 42 has a second locking portion 42G that locks with the second locked portion 23B. The retaining portion 29 is formed by the second locked portion 23B and the other wall (second front wall 24). When the locking member 40 is in the released position, the locking arm 42 contacts the other wall portion (second front wall portion 24) with the second engaging portion 42G engaged with the second engaged portion 23B, thereby holding the engaging portion 42B at a position offset in a direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the fitting direction (front-rear direction) relative to the engaged portion 114. Furthermore, the other wall portion (second front wall portion 24) is elastically deformable in the direction opposite to the one wall portion (first front wall portion 23). This configuration facilitates the formation of clearance between the locking arm 42 and the wall portions (first front wall portion 23, second front wall portion 24) between the pair of walls (first front wall portion 23, second front wall portion 24), thereby facilitating the engagement and disengagement between the second engaging portion 42G and the second engaged portion 23B.

[0060] In the connector 10 of the first embodiment, the housing 20 has a third locking portion 25A that locks with the locking member 40 in a position different from the release position. The locking member 40 has a third locked portion 44B that locks with the third locking portion 25A. This configuration prevents the locking member 40 from moving inadvertently relative to the housing 20 when the connector 10 is moved.

[0061] In the connector 10 of the first embodiment, the locking member 40 has a locking arm 42 that is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction (front-rear direction) (left-right direction). The locking arm 42 has a locking portion 42B that locks with the locked portion 114 of the mating housing 110. When the housing 20 and the mating housing 110 are mated, when the locking portion 42B locks with the locked portion 114, the third locking portion 25A remains locked to the third locked portion 44B. This configuration allows the locking member 40 to be locked to the mating housing 110 while maintaining the relative positions of the housing 20 and the locking member 40.

[0062] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the examples described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, including the following embodiments.

[0063] In the first embodiment, the locking arm 42 and the holding portion 29 are provided on both the left and right sides of the connector 10, but they may be provided on only one side.

[0064] In the first embodiment, the connector 10 includes a pair of terminal fittings 30, but the number of terminal fittings is not limited to this.

[0065] In the first embodiment, the connector 10 may be a multi-layer connector in which multiple rows of terminal fittings are arranged in the left-right direction.

[0066] 10: Connector 20: Housing 21: Main body 22: Storage section 23: First front wall (one wall) 23A: Recess 23B: Second locked portion 24: Second front wall (the other wall) 24A: First inner surface 24B: Second inner surface 24C: Third inner surface 25: Rear wall 25A: Third locked portion 25B: Projection 26: Step wall 27: Front wall 27A: Hole 28: Upper wall 28A: Recess 29: Retaining portion (second locked portion, second front wall) 30: Terminal fitting 31: Terminal connecting portion 32: Wire barrel 33: Insulation barrel 40: Locking member 41: Main body 42: Lock arm 42A: Arm portion 42B: Locking portion 42C: Inclined surface 42D: Rear surface 42E: Inclined surface 42F: Inner surface 42G: Second locking portion 43: Upper wall portion 44: Side wall portion 44A: Recessed portion 44B: Third locked portion 44C: Groove portion 45: Front wall portion 45A: Opening 46: Plate portion 50: Electric wire 51: Core wire 52: Insulating coating 100: Mating connector 110: Mating housing 111: Terminal support wall 112: Hood portion 113: Side wall 114: Locked portion 120: Mating terminal fitting 121: Tab portion

Claims

1. A connector comprising: a housing that mates with a mating housing; and a locking member that is assembled to the housing and engages with the mating housing, wherein the locking member moves relative to the housing in the mating direction between a locked position in which it engages with the mating housing and a released position in which it is no longer engaged with the mating housing.

2. A connector as described in claim 1, wherein the locking member has a locking arm that is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction, the locking arm has a locking portion that locks onto a locked portion of the mating housing, the housing has a holding portion that holds the locking portion when the locking member is in the released position, and the locking portion is held by the holding portion at a position shifted in the perpendicular direction relative to the locked portion.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the housing has a pair of wall portions between which the locking arm fits, one of the wall portions is formed with a second latching portion with which the locking arm latches, the locking arm has a second latching portion that latches onto the second latching portion, the holding portion is constituted by the second latching portion and the other wall portion, when the locking member is in the released position, the second latching portion contacts the other wall portion with the second latching portion latched onto the second latching portion, thereby holding the latching portion in a position shifted relative to the latching portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction, and the other wall portion is elastically deformable in the opposite direction to the one wall portion.

4. A connector as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing has a third locking portion that locks with the locking member in a position different from the release position, and the locking member has a third locked portion that locks with the third locking portion.

5. A connector as described in claim 4, wherein the locking member has a locking arm that is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction, the locking arm having a locking portion that locks onto a locked portion of the mating housing, and when the locking portion locks onto the locked portion when the housing and the mating housing are mated, the state in which the third locking portion is locked onto the third locked portion is maintained.

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