CN119560841A - Connector with a plurality of connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a connector capable of easily unlocking a locking arm. A connector (10) is provided with a housing (20), a lock arm (22) which is elastically deformable, is provided to the housing, is engaged with a lock portion (13) provided to a mating connector (11) in a fitted state with the mating connector, and a detection member (50) which is attached to the lock arm so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, is allowed to move from the first position to the second position in the fitted state, the housing has an opposing surface (28) which opposes the lock arm, a deflection space (29) is formed between the opposing surface and the lock arm, and the detection member enters the recess when the lock arm is elastically deformed in a fitted state with the mating connector in which the detection member is arranged in the first position.

Description

Connector with a plurality of connectors

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector.

Background

Conventionally, as described in, for example, patent documents 1 to 4 below, a connector including a detection member for detecting a fitted state of the connector is known. The connector described in patent document 1 below can press the detection member into the detection position below the lock arm in a state where the male connector and the female connector are completely fitted. Thus, it can be known that the connector is completely fitted. In a stage before the male connector and the female connector are completely fitted, even if the detection member is to be pushed into the detection position, the detection member is brought into contact with the lock arm which is elastically deformed downward, and the detection member cannot be pushed into the detection position. Thus, it can be known that the connector is in an incompletely fitted state. The detection member of the connector described in patent document 4 is attached to the lock arm so as to be elastically deformable integrally with the lock arm. The height position of the lock arm is arranged at a high position so that the detection member does not contact the housing when the lock arm is elastically deformed downward.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1 Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2002-141145

Patent document 2 Japanese patent laid-open No. 11-26089

Patent document 3 Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2022-1492206

Patent document 4 Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2017-157546

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the connector having the above-described structure, in order to separate the fitted connector, the detection member is moved rearward from the detection position, and the lock arm is elastically deformed downward to release the lock. If the detection member is to be attached to the lock arm so as to be elastically deformed integrally therewith, the detection member that moves rearward may come into contact with the housing without raising the height position of the lock arm, and it may be difficult to elastically deform the lock arm. Therefore, there is a desire to easily unlock the lock of the lock arm.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of easily releasing the lock of a lock arm.

Means for solving the problems

The connector of the present invention includes a housing, a lock arm which is elastically deformable, provided to the housing, and is engaged with a lock portion provided to a mating connector in a fitted state with the mating connector, and a detection member which is attached to the lock arm so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, and in the fitted state, is allowed to move from the first position to the second position, the housing has an opposing surface which opposes the lock arm, a deflection space is formed between the opposing surface and the lock arm, and the opposing surface has a recess, and in a state in which the detection member is provided in the first position, the detection member enters the recess when the lock arm is elastically deformed in the fitted state with the mating connector.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, a connector in which locking of a lock arm can be easily released can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before the connector of the present embodiment is fitted to a counterpart connector.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector in a fitted state with the counterpart connector.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the housing and the detection member.

Fig. 4 is a top view showing a portion of the housing.

Fig. 5 is a rear view showing a part of the housing.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the detection member.

Fig. 7 is a rear view showing the detection member.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a part of the connector showing a state in which the detection member is arranged at the first position.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of a part of the connector showing a state in which the detection member is arranged at the first position.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the connector showing a state in which the detection member is arranged at the first position.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector in a fitted state with the counterpart connector, and is a cross-sectional view of the connector in a state in which the second locking portion is locked with the second locking protrusion.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing a state before fitting with the counterpart connector.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing a state in which the detection member disposed at the first position enters the recess during fitting with the counterpart connector.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the connector showing a state in which the lock arm is elastically deformed during fitting with the counterpart connector.

Fig. 15 is a front view showing the stopper body.

Detailed Description

Description of embodiments of the invention

First, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(1) The connector of the present invention includes a housing, a lock arm which is elastically deformable, provided to the housing, and is engaged with a lock portion provided to a mating connector in a fitted state with the mating connector, and a detection member which is attached to the lock arm so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, and in the fitted state, is allowed to move from the first position to the second position, the housing has an opposing surface which opposes the lock arm, a deflection space is formed between the opposing surface and the lock arm, and the opposing surface has a recess, and in a state in which the detection member is provided in the first position, the detection member enters the recess when the lock arm is elastically deformed in the fitted state with the mating connector. According to this configuration, when the connectors in the fitted state are separated, the lock arm is elastically deformed after the detection member is moved from the second position to the first position. At this time, the detection member disposed at the first position is displaced by the elastic deformation of the lock arm, and enters the recess of the opposing surface. Therefore, even if the height position of the lock arm is not raised, the lock arm is prevented from being elastically deformed by the detection member, and the lock of the lock arm can be easily released.

(2) The connector according to (1) above, wherein the recess has a movement restricting surface that is located forward in a movement direction from the first position to the second position with respect to the detection member that enters the recess. According to this configuration, even if the detection member is pushed from the first position to the second position in a state where the lock arm is elastically deformed, the detection member collides with the movement restricting surface and cannot move. Since the movement restricting surface that restricts movement of the detection member from the first position to the second position is provided in the recess, the housing can be miniaturized as compared with the case where the movement restricting surface is provided at a different portion from the recess.

(3) In the connector according to (1) or (2), the detection member may have an engagement portion that engages with at least one of the lock arm and the housing in the second position, and the engagement portion may be located rearward of the movement restricting surface in a movement direction from the first position to the second position in a state in which the detection member enters the recess. According to this configuration, the locking portion has a function of locking at least one of the lock arm and the housing in the second position, and a function of preventing the detection member from moving from the first position to the second position by contacting the movement restricting surface. Therefore, the detection member can be miniaturized as compared with a case where these functions are provided at different positions.

(4) The connector according to any one of (1) to (3) above may further include a stopper body that is engaged with a terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing, wherein a stopper body mounting portion that communicates with the terminal accommodating chamber is provided in the housing, and when a direction in which the lock arm is elastically deformed is taken as an up-down direction, a range of formation of the recess in the up-down direction of the housing is limited to a range of formation of the stopper body mounting portion in the up-down direction of the housing. According to this structure, the recess can be formed in the housing having the stopper mounting portion without increasing the vertical dimension, so that the housing can be prevented from being enlarged.

[ Details of the embodiments of the present invention ]

Specific examples of the connector according to the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. 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 equivalent to the claims.

Embodiment 1

As shown in fig. 1, the connector 10 includes a housing 20 that can be fitted to the cover 12 of the mating connector 11, and a detecting member 50 that detects the fitted state with the mating connector 11. A terminal component, not shown, is housed in the case 20. The housing 20 is provided with an elastically deformable lock arm 22. As shown in fig. 2, the lock arm 22 is engaged with the lock portion 13 provided in the mating connector 11, and holds the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 in a fitted state.

In the following description of the connector 10, the front side in the fitting direction to be fitted with the counterpart connector 11 is referred to as the front side, and the side provided with the lock arm 22 is referred to as the upper side. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction when the connector 10 is viewed from the front side. In each figure, the positive direction side of the X axis represents the front side, the negative direction side of the X axis represents the rear side, the positive direction side of the Y axis represents the upper side, the negative direction side of the Y axis represents the lower side, the positive direction side of the Z axis represents the left side, and the negative direction side of the Z axis represents the right side. These directions do not necessarily coincide with the directions in the state where the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like.

The housing 14 of the mating connector 11 is made of synthetic resin. The cover 12 of the mating connector 11 is square cylindrical. The housing 14 of the mating connector 11 holds a mating terminal fitting 15 (see fig. 12). The counterpart terminal member 15 is made of conductive metal and has a protruding piece protruding into the cover 12. The counterpart terminal member 15 is connected to the substrate 100. As shown in fig. 2, the lock portion 13 protrudes inward of the cover portion 12.

The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and includes a housing body 21 and a lock arm 22 as shown in fig. 3. The housing main body 21 has a plurality of terminal receiving chambers 23 on both left and right sides of the lock arm 22. Terminal parts, not shown, are accommodated in the respective terminal accommodation chambers 23. The terminal fitting is electrically connected to the counterpart terminal fitting 15 when the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11 are fitted. The terminal fitting is connected to a terminal portion of an electric wire, not shown.

As shown in fig. 1 and 15, a stopper 24 is attached to the housing 20. The stopper 24 is engaged with the terminal fitting accommodated in each terminal accommodation chamber 23, and prevents the terminal fitting from coming off. The stopper 24 includes a retaining portion 24A and a stopper locking portion 24B. The drop-off preventing portion 24A protrudes into the terminal housing chamber 23 (see fig. 5). The stopper locking portions 24B are locked to the left and right side surfaces of the housing 20.

As shown in fig. 1, the stopper 24 is mounted to a stopper mounting portion 25 provided to the housing 20. The stopper mounting portion 25 communicates with the terminal housing chamber 23. The stopper body mounting portions 25 are provided from the lower surface of the housing 20 over the left and right side surfaces of the housing 20. The stopper mounting portion 25 in the up-down direction of the housing 20 is formed in a range from the height position of the upper end of the stopper locking portion 24B to the lower surface of the housing 20. In other words, the forming range of the stopper body mounting portion 25 is a portion of the housing 20 recessed for mounting the stopper body 24.

As shown in fig. 3, a recess 26 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the housing main body 21 in the lateral direction. The recess 26 is disposed below the locking arm 22. The recess 26 is a portion between the left and right side surfaces 27 and above the bottom surface 28. The bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 is an opposing surface that opposes the lock arm 22. The bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 is disposed one step lower than the upper surfaces of the left and right end portions of the housing main body 21. A bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 forms a deflection space 29 of the lock arm 22 between the lock arm 22 and the bottom surface. A recess 31 is provided in the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26. The concave portion 31 will be described in detail later.

As shown in fig. 2, the lock arm 22 includes a base end portion 32, an arm portion 33, and an operation portion 34. The base end portion 32 stands up from the front end portion of the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26. The arm portion 33 extends rearward from the base end portion 32. The operation portion 34 is provided at the rear end portion of the arm portion 33. The lock arm 22 is elastically deformable in the up-down direction with the base end portion 32 as a fulcrum.

The arm 33 has a locking protrusion 35. The lock projection 35 projects upward from the front-rear intermediate portion of the arm 33. The locking projection 35 is engaged with the locking portion 13 of the counterpart connector 11. An entry portion 36 is formed below the locking protrusion 35. In a state where the detection member 50 is located at the second position, the restricting projection 56 enters the entering portion 36. A locking hole 37 is formed behind the locking protrusion 35 in the arm portion 33.

The operation portion 34 is disposed at a position higher than the locking protrusion 35. As shown in fig. 4, the operation portion 34 has a square plate shape extending over the entire width of the lock arm 22.

As shown in fig. 4, the housing 20 has a first locking protrusion 38 and a second locking protrusion 39. The first locking protrusion 38 has a function of stopping the detection member 50 at the first position with respect to the housing 20. The second locking protrusion 39 has a function of stopping the detection member 50 at the second position with respect to the housing 20.

As shown in fig. 4, the first locking projection 38 is provided on the operation portion 34 of the lock arm 22. The first locking protrusion 38 is disposed rearward of the second locking protrusion 39. The first locking projection 38 projects from the left and right side surfaces of the operation portion 34 to the outside in the left-right direction. As shown in fig. 5, the first locking protrusion 38 is located above the second locking protrusion 39.

As shown in fig. 4, the second locking protrusion 39 is provided to the housing main body 21. The second locking projection 39 projects inward in the left-right direction from the left-right side surface 27 of the recess 26.

As shown in fig. 2, the detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22 so as to be movable from the first position to the second position. In fig. 2, the detection member 50 disposed at the first position is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The detection member 50 is allowed to move from the first position to the second position when engaged with the counterpart connector 11.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, the detection member 50 is made of synthetic resin, and includes a base 51 at a rear end, an extension 52 at a front end, and a first locking portion 53 and a second locking portion 54 on a side surface. Protrusions 55 protruding outward are provided on both left and right surfaces of the base 51. The rear surface of the base 51 is pressed forward, and the detection member 50 moves from the first position to the second position. As shown in fig. 7, the base 51 has a notch 58, and the standing wall 45 described later can enter the notch 58 from below. The notch 58 is provided on the inner side in the left-right direction than the left-right second locking portion 54.

The extension 52 extends forward from the left-right direction center portion of the base 51. The extension 52 is elastically deformable in the up-down direction with the rear end side as a fulcrum. A restricting projection 56 is provided at the front end portion of the extension 52. In a state where the detection member 50 is disposed at the second position, the restricting projection 56 enters the entrance portion 36 (see fig. 2).

As shown in fig. 6, the first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 extend forward from the left and right end portions of the base 51, respectively. The front end of the second locking portion 54 is located forward of the front end of the first locking portion 53. The second locking portion 54 is provided one step outside the first locking portion 53 in the left-right direction.

As shown in fig. 8, in a state in which the detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22, the left and right first locking portions 53 are brought into contact with or close to the left and right surfaces of the operation portion 34. In a state where the detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22, the left and right second locking portions 54 are brought into contact with or close to the left and right side surfaces 27 of the recess 26.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, in a state where the detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22, the upper surfaces of the first locking portion 53 and the protrusion 55 are disposed at substantially the same height as the upper surface of the operation portion 34 of the lock arm 22. The upper surface of the first locking portion 53 and the upper surface of the protrusion 55 can abut against the finger together with the upper surface of the operation portion 34.

As shown in fig. 10, the first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 each have a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the side in the left-right direction. The first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 are formed with locking holes 57 that are rectangular in side view and penetrate in the lateral direction. The first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 are elastically deformable in the left-right direction with the rear end side as a fulcrum.

In a state before the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11 are fitted, as shown in fig. 12, the detection member 50 is inserted into the flexing space 29 of the housing 20 from the rear, and is assembled at the first position. During assembly, the left and right first locking portions 53 are brought into contact with the first locking projections 38 and elastically deformed outward in the left-right direction. When the detecting member 50 reaches the first position, as shown in fig. 10, the tip end portion of the first locking portion 53 moves beyond the first locking protrusion 38, and is displaced inward in the left-right direction by the elastic force, and is locked with the first locking protrusion 38. Thereby, the rearward movement of the detection member 50 is restricted. When the detecting member 50 is disposed at the first position, the front end of the second locking portion 54 and the rear surface of the second locking protrusion 39 are displaced in the front-rear direction. In addition, in the first position, the restricting projection 56 of the extension 52 enters the locking hole 37, behind the locking projection 35. Thereby, the forward movement of the detection member 50 is restricted. Thus, the detection member 50 is held in the first position.

In the mated state of the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11, as shown in fig. 2, the detection member 50 moves from the first position to the second position when pressed from the rear. When the detecting member 50 is disposed at the second position, as shown in fig. 11, the second locking protrusion 39 is fitted into the locking hole 57 of the second locking portion 54. Thereby, the rearward movement of the detection member 50 is restricted. When the detecting member 50 is disposed at the second position, the restricting projection 56 enters the entering portion 36. Since there is no space in front of the entrance portion 36, the movement of the detection member 50 forward is restricted. Thus, the detection member 50 is held in the second position.

As shown in fig. 13, the housing 20 has a recess 31, and in a state where the detection member 50 is disposed at the first position, the detection member 50 enters the recess 31 when the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed during fitting with the counterpart connector 11. The recess 31 is a portion recessed downward from the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26. The recess 31 is formed in a range from the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 to the lower surface of the housing 20 in the up-down direction of the housing 20. The range of formation of the recess 31 is limited in the up-down direction within the range of formation of the stopper mounting portion 25. The recess 31 has a front wall 43 and a bottom wall 44. An inclined surface 46 is provided on an upper portion of the front wall 43 of the recess 31.

As shown in fig. 5, the concave portion 31 has a first concave portion 41 located at the center in the left-right direction and a second concave portion 42 located at the left and right sides of the first concave portion 41. A standing wall 45 is provided between the first recess 41 and the second recess 42. The upper surfaces of the left and right standing walls 45 constitute the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26.

As shown in fig. 14, the extension 52 of the detection member 50 enters the first recess 41. The extension 52 of the detection member 50 entering the first recess 41 contacts or approaches the upper end of the front wall 43, and the lower end of the detection member 50 contacts or approaches the bottom wall 44. In the first recess 41, the bottom wall 44 continues to the rear end of the housing 20.

As shown in fig. 5, the second recess 42 is formed between the standing wall 45 and the wall surface 47 of the housing main body 21. The wall surface 47 of the housing main body 21 continues downward from the left and right side surfaces 27 of the recess 26. In other words, the upper portion of the wall surface 47 of the housing main body 21 constitutes the left and right side surfaces 27 of the recess 26.

As shown in fig. 13, a part of the second locking portion 54 enters the second concave portion 42. In the second recess 42, the bottom wall 44 is located forward of the rear end of the housing 20. When the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed, the base 51 enters the open portion at the rear of the bottom wall 44.

As shown in fig. 13, the recess 31 includes a movement restricting surface 48, and the movement restricting surface 48 is located forward in the movement direction from the first position to the second position with respect to the detection member 50 in the state of entering the recess 31. The movement restricting surface 48 is provided at a lower portion of the front wall 43 of the second recess 42. The movement restricting surface 48 is perpendicular to the movement direction (front-rear direction) of the detecting member 50.

Next, an example of the operation of completely fitting the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11 will be described. First, as shown in fig. 12, the housing 20 is inserted into the cover 12 of the mating connector 11 and fitted thereto. When the mating connector 11 starts to be fitted, as shown in fig. 13 and 14, the lock projection 35 contacts the lock portion 13, and the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed downward (toward the deflection space 29 side). The detection member 50 is also displaced downward in conjunction with the elastic deformation of the lock arm 22. The detection member 50 enters the recess 31. Specifically, the extension 52 enters the first recess 41, and the left and right second locking portions 54 enter the left and right second recesses 42, respectively. In addition, the standing wall 45 enters the notch portion 58.

In a state where the detection member 50 enters the recess 31, the second locking portion 54 is located rearward of the movement restricting surface 48 in the movement direction. When the detection member 50 is pressed forward in this state, the lower end of the front surface of the second locking portion 54 contacts the movement restricting surface 48. In addition, the restricting projection 56 is in contact with the locking projection 35. Thereby, the movement of the detection member 50 from the first position to the second position is restricted.

Then, when fitting with the mating connector 11 is performed, as shown in fig. 2, the connector 10 is inserted into the hood 12 of the mating connector 11 at a regular depth, and the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 are brought into a fitted state. At this time, the detecting member 50 is arranged at a first position shown by a two-dot chain line. The lock arm 22 is elastically restored when fitted to the mating connector 11, and the lock projection 35 is displaced upward to be locked to the lock portion 13. Thereby, the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11 are kept in the fitted state. The detection member 50 is movable to the second position by the upward displacement of the locking projection 35.

At this time, when the detection member 50 is pressed forward, as shown in fig. 11, the tip end portion of the second locking portion 54 elastically passes over the second locking protrusion 39, and the detection member 50 reaches the second position. The second locking protrusion 39 is fitted into the locking hole 57 of the second locking portion 54, and movement of the detection member 50 to the first position is restricted. In addition, as shown in fig. 2, the restricting projection 56 enters the entrance portion 36. Thereby, the downward elastic deformation of the lock arm 22 is restricted. Thus, the fitting operation of the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11 is completed.

Next, an example of the operation of removing the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11 in the fitted state will be described. First, the detection member 50 is moved from the second position to the first position. Specifically, the left and right protrusions 55 of the detection member 50 are pinched with fingers to pull the detection member 50 rearward, and the detection member 50 is moved rearward. Thereby, the lock arm 22 can be released.

Then, the operation portion 34 of the lock arm 22 is pressed downward, and the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed downward. At this time, the finger can be made to abut against a wide surface constituted by the upper surface of the operation portion 34 of the lock arm 22, the upper surfaces of the left and right first locking portions 53, and the upper surfaces of the projections 55, so that the operation of pressing the operation portion 34 can be easily performed. In conjunction with the elastic deformation of the lock arm 22, the detection member 50 is also displaced downward, and the detection member 50 enters the recess 31. In the case where the recess 31 is not provided, the height position of the lock arm 22 needs to be raised, but by providing the recess 31, the height position of the lock arm 22 may not be raised. Thereby, even if the height position of the lock arm 22 is not raised, the detection member 50 can be prevented from interfering with the downward displacement of the lock arm 22. By the downward displacement of the lock arm 22, the lock projection 35 is displaced downward, and the connector 10 can be moved rearward. The connector 10 is pulled backward and detached from the counterpart connector 11. With this, the operation of removing the connector 10 and the counterpart connector 11 in the completely fitted state is completed.

Next, the operation and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The connector 10 includes a housing 20, an elastically deformable lock arm 22, and a detection member 50. The lock arm 22 is provided to the housing 20. The lock arm 22 is engaged with the lock portion 13 provided in the mating connector 11 in a fitted state with the mating connector 11. The detection member 50 is mounted to the lock arm 22 so as to be movable between a first position and a second position. The detection member 50 is allowed to move from the first position to the second position in the fitted state. The housing 20 has a bottom surface 28 of the recess 26, the bottom surface 28 being opposed to the lock arm 22, and a flexure space 29 being formed between the lock arm 22 and the bottom surface 28. The bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 has a recess 31, and the detection member 50 enters the recess 31 when the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed during fitting with the counterpart connector 11 in a state where the detection member 50 is disposed at the first position.

According to this structure, when the connector 10 in the fitted state is separated, the detection member 50 is moved from the second position to the first position, and the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed. At this time, the detection member 50 disposed at the first position is displaced by the elastic deformation of the lock arm 22, and enters the recess 31 of the opposing surface. Therefore, the detection member 50 prevents the lock arm 22 from being elastically deformed, and the lock of the lock arm 22 can be easily released.

The recess 31 includes a movement restricting surface 48. The movement restricting surface 48 is located forward in the movement direction from the first position to the second position with respect to the detection member 50 in the state of entering the recess 31. According to this configuration, even if the detection member 50 is to be pushed from the first position to the second position in a state where the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed, the detection member 50 is in contact with the movement restricting surface 48 and cannot move. Since the movement restricting surface 48 restricting the movement of the detecting member 50 from the first position to the second position is provided in the concave portion 31, the housing 20 can be miniaturized as compared with the case where the movement restricting surface 48 is provided at a different portion from the concave portion 31.

The detection member 50 has a second locking portion 54. The second locking portion 54 is locked to the housing 20 at the second position. In a state where the detection member 50 enters the recess 31, the second locking portion 54 is located rearward of the movement restricting surface 48 in the movement direction. According to this configuration, the second locking portion 54 has a function of locking with the housing 20 at the second position and a function of preventing the movement of the detection member 50 from the first position to the second position by contacting the movement restricting surface 48. Therefore, the detection member 50 can be miniaturized as compared with a case where these functions are provided at different positions.

The housing 20 is provided with a stopper mounting portion 25 communicating with the terminal housing chamber 23. The range of formation of the recess 31 in the up-down direction of the housing 20 is limited to the range of formation of the stopper mounting portion 25 in the up-down direction of the housing 20. According to this structure, the recess 31 can be formed in the housing 20 having the stopper mounting portion 25 without increasing the vertical dimension, so that the housing 20 can be prevented from being enlarged.

Other embodiments of the invention

The presently disclosed embodiments are considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

In the above embodiment, the movement restricting surface 48 is provided in the second concave portion 42, but as another embodiment, the movement restricting surface may be provided in the first concave portion 41.

In the above embodiment, the movement restricting surface 48 is provided in the concave portion 31, but as another embodiment, the movement restricting surface may be provided in a place other than the concave portion.

In the above embodiment, the second locking portion 54 of the detection member 50 is in contact with the movement restricting surface 48, but as another embodiment, a portion of the detection member other than the second locking portion may be in contact with the movement restricting surface.

In the case of the above embodiment, the formation range of the recess 31 in the up-down direction of the housing 20 is limited to the formation range of the stopper mounting portion 25 in the up-down direction of the housing 20, but as another embodiment, the formation range of the recess may not be limited to the formation range of the stopper mounting portion 25. In addition, the connector may not be provided with a stopper.

In the above embodiment, the second locking portion 54 is locked to the housing 20 at the second position, but as another embodiment, the second locking portion may be locked to the lock arm at the second position. In this case, the second locking projection may be provided on the lock arm.

Description of the reference numerals

10 Connector

11 Counterpart connector

12 Cover part

13 Locking part

14 Casing body

15 Counterpart terminal part

20 Casing body

21 Casing body

22 Locking arm

23 Terminal accommodating chamber

24 Stop body

24A drop-proof part

24B stopper locking portion

25 Stopper mounting portion

26 Concave portion

27 Side face

28 Bottom surface (opposite surface)

29 Deflection space

31 Concave portion

32 Base end portion

33 Arm portion

34 Operation part

35 Locking projection

36 Inlet portion

37 Locking hole

38 First locking projection

39 Second locking projection

41 First concave portion

42 Second recess

43 Front wall

44 Bottom wall

45 Vertical wall

46 Inclined plane

47 Wall surface

48 Movement limiting surface

50 Detection Member

51 Base portion

52 Extension part

53 First locking part

54 A second locking part

55 Protrusion

56 Limiting projection

57-Locking hole

58 Notched portion

100 Substrate

Claims (4)

1. A connector is provided with:

A housing;

A locking arm capable of elastic deformation and arranged on the shell and locked with a locking part arranged on the opposite connector in the embedded state with the opposite connector, and

A detection member mounted to the lock arm so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, the detection member being allowed to move from the first position to the second position in the fitted state,

The housing has an opposing surface that opposes the lock arm, forms a flexing space with the lock arm,

The opposing surface has a concave portion into which the detection member enters when the lock arm is elastically deformed during fitting with the counterpart connector in a state in which the detection member is disposed at the first position.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the recess is provided with a movement restricting surface that is located forward in a movement direction from the first position to the second position with respect to the detection member that enters the state of the recess.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the detection member has a locking portion that is locked with at least one of the lock arm and the housing in the second position,

The locking portion is located rearward of the movement restricting surface in a movement direction from the first position to the second position in a state where the detecting member enters the recess.

4. The connector according to any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein there is a stopper body that is locked with a terminal fitting housed in a terminal housing chamber of the housing,

A stop body mounting part communicated with the terminal accommodating chamber is arranged on the shell,

When the direction in which the lock arm is elastically deformed is taken as the up-down direction,

The range of formation of the recess in the up-down direction of the housing is defined within the range of formation of the stopper mounting portion in the up-down direction of the housing.