CN113097792B

CN113097792B - Connector with a locking member

Info

Publication number: CN113097792B
Application number: CN202110358808.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黑濑创一郎; 南云康平
Original assignee: Molex LLC
Current assignee: Molex LLC
Priority date: 2018-07-25
Filing date: 2019-07-12
Publication date: 2023-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-12
Also published as: CN110783767A; CN113097792A; JP7137388B2; CN110783767B; JP2020017414A

Abstract

To provide a high reliability, a low manufacturing cost, and a high durability, in which fitting with a mating connector can be reliably maintained, and good click feeling and operability and high locking property are provided when fitting with the mating connector. The present invention includes a base made of an insulating material, wherein a connector is fitted with a mating connector having a mating base made of an insulating material, the base including: a base body; a locking member serving as a fitting locking member for locking the fitting base; a support member connected to the base body to support the locking member in a swingable manner, the locking member including: a pair of left and right beam members extending in a front-rear direction which is a direction in which the mating connector is mated; an engaging portion which connects the front ends of the left and right beam members so as to be engageable with the mating lock member; and an operation portion connecting rear ends of the left and right beam members, wherein the support member includes an elastic member having a substantially L-shaped shape when viewed from the side.

Description

Connector with a locking member

The application is a divisional application with application date of 2019, 7, 12 and application number of 2019106286255 and invented name of "connector".

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector.

Background

Conventionally, a connector for connecting a conductor such as a cable to another conductor, an electrical device, an electronic device, or the like has a lock mechanism for preventing the connector from being disengaged or disengaged from a mating connector provided for the conductor, the electrical device, the electronic device, or the like (for example, refer to patent document 1).

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a connector according to the prior art.

In fig. 9, 811 is a base of a connector integrally formed of synthetic resin, and includes: a terminal housing portion 812 for housing a terminal 851 connected to the end of the wire; and a cylindrical portion 813 surrounding the periphery of the terminal housing portion 812. In addition, a terminal 851 inserted from the rear is housed inside the terminal housing portion 812 with a ring-shaped sealing member 881 attached on the outer surface of the terminal housing portion 812. Further, a lock arm 831 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 811. The lock arm 831 is coupled to the terminal housing portion 812 via a support portion 832 at a position near the center in the front-rear direction, and is swingable around the support portion 832.

As shown in fig. 9, when the connector is fitted to the mating connector, the mating base 911 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 813, and the terminal housing portion 812 is inserted into the mating base 911, whereby the rod-like mating terminal 951 is in contact with the terminal 851 housed in the terminal housing portion 812. Further, the seal member 881 is pressed by the mating base 911 and the terminal accommodating portion 812 to provide sealing between the mating base 911 and the terminal accommodating portion 812, and the locking concave portion 835 formed near the front end of the locking arm 831 is engaged with the locking convex portion 935 formed on the upper surface of the mating base 911.

As a result, the housing 811 and the mating housing 911 are locked to each other, and the fitting between the connector and the mating connector is reliably maintained. Further, when it is necessary to release the fitting between the connector and the mating connector, the operator presses down the operation portion 837 formed on the upper surface near the rear end of the lock arm 831 with his or her fingers or the like to swing the lock arm 831 and release the engagement between the lock concave portion 835 and the lock convex portion 935, thereby releasing the lock.

Patent document 1: JP2005-26065A

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the conventional connector, since the lock arm 831 is connected to the terminal accommodating portion 812 only via the support portion 832, the connector does not sufficiently function as a spring piece for elastically swinging the lock arm 831. Therefore, a click feeling at the time of locking the base 811 and the mating base 911 and operability at the time of unlocking are insufficient. Further, the engagement between the locking concave portion 835 and the locking convex portion 935 is not necessarily reliably maintained, which makes the locking property insufficient.

Here, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in the conventional art by providing a connector which has good click feeling and operability and high locking property when fitted with a mating connector, and can reliably maintain the fitting with the mating connector, and which has low manufacturing cost and high durability in addition to high reliability.

To this end, a connector includes a base made of an insulating material, wherein the connector is fitted with a mating connector having a mating base made of an insulating material. Wherein the base includes: a base body; a locking member serving as a fitting locking member for locking the fitting base; and a support member connected to the base body to support the locking member in a swingable manner. Wherein the locking member comprises: a pair of left and right beam members extending in a front-rear direction which is a direction in which the mating connector is mated; an engaging portion that connects the front ends of the left and right beam members so as to be engageable with the mating lock member; and an operation unit that connects the rear ends of the left and right beam members. And wherein the support member includes an elastic member having a substantially L-shape when viewed from a side.

Further, in another connector, the elastic member includes: a first elastic member extending rearward, a base end of which is held by a holding member connected to the base body; and a pair of left and right second elastic members extending upward and connected to free ends of the first elastic members, upper ends of the second elastic members being connected to the respective beam members, wherein a lower surface of the first elastic member is an inclined surface rising rearward.

Further, in still another connector, the first elastic member is a plate member extending from a position directly below one beam member to a position directly below the other beam member, and the left and right second elastic members are connected to left and right ends of a free end of the first elastic member.

Further, in the further connector, each beam member is thicker than the base end of the first elastic member.

Further, in a further connector, the lock member includes a projecting piece formed near a rear end thereof to project outward in the width direction, wherein the base includes upper and lower projections formed on both left and right sides of the lock member, wherein when the projecting piece abuts against the upper projection or the lower projection, displacement of the rear end of the lock member in the up-down direction is stopped.

According to the present invention, the connector has a good click feeling and operability when fitted with a mating connector and high locking property, and can reliably maintain the fitting with the mating connector, and has reduced manufacturing cost and high durability in addition to improved reliability.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state of the connector according to the present embodiment just before fitting with a mating connector.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the connector according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment just before fitting.

Fig. 4 is a partial side sectional view showing a state immediately before fitting of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main portion of the connector according to the present embodiment, that is, an enlarged view of the main portion of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a fitting state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a fitting state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a partially cut-away side view showing a fitting state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a connector according to the prior art.

Description of the reference numerals

1

connector

11, 811 base

11f front end 11r rear end

12 upper surface of base body 111a

12b and base 12c fitting part

13 covering part 13a front upper plate part

13b front side plate 13c front bottom plate

13d rear side plate 13e rear bottom plate

14a upper side projection 14b lower side projection

21 main body through hole 22 fitting space

31 locking member 32 support member

32a first elastic member 32b second elastic member

32c holding member 32d connecting member

32e, 32f dashed 33 beam member

35 front of the front beam member 35a

35b bottom surfaces

35c, 135c vertical surfaces

37 rear beam member 38 tabs

81. 881 sealing member 91 lead

101

mating connector

111, 911 mating base

111b side wall 111c bottom plate

113 connector receiving cavity 135 locking projection

135a inclined surface 135b top surface

151. 951 terminal receptacle of mating terminal 812

813 barrel 831 locking arm

832 support 835 locking recess

83 operating part 851 terminal

935 locking projection

Detailed Description

The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state of a connector according to the present embodiment just before fitting with a mating connector, fig. 2 is a rear view of the connector according to the present embodiment, fig. 3 is a cutaway perspective view showing a state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment just before fitting, fig. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment just before fitting, and fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main portion of the connector according to the present embodiment, that is, an enlarged view of the main portion of fig. 4.

In fig. 1, 1 is a connector as a first connector of the present embodiment, and is one of a pair of connectors forming a connector assembly. The connector 1 is a wire connector, which is connected to the ends of a plurality of wires 91 and is used to electrically connect these wires 91 to a second connector. Note that the number of the wires 91 connected to the connector 1 may be a single or a plurality or an arbitrary number, wherein, for convenience of explanation, a case where the number is two will be explained below. Further, 101 is a mating connector as the second connector in the present embodiment and is the other of the pair of connectors forming the connector assembly. The mating connector 101 is connected to a wire, an electric device, an electronic device, or the like (not shown).

Further, expressions indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear, which are used to explain the actions and the constitution of each member included in the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 in the present embodiment, are not absolute but relative. These expressions are appropriate when the respective members included in the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are in the postures shown in fig. 1. In the case where the postures of the members included in the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are changed, these directions should be changed in explanation corresponding to the new postures after the change.

The mating connector 101 includes: a mating base 111 as a second base integrally formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin or the like and fitted with the first connector 1; and a mating terminal 151 as a second terminal of metal mounted in the mating base 111.

The mating base 111 is a cylindrical member, which extends entirely in the fitting direction (X-axis direction) with the connector 1, and has: a cylindrical side wall portion 111b; and a bottom plate portion 111c that closes the cylindrical bottom surface of the base end (X-axis positive direction end) of the side wall portion 111 b. In addition, a space defined by the side wall portion 111b and the bottom plate portion 111c in the periphery serves as a connector receiving cavity 113 into which a part of the connector 1 is inserted. The connector receiving cavity 113 is a space whose front end side (X-axis negative direction end side) is open, in which a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) mating terminals 151 are provided. These mating terminals 151 are linear rod-shaped members that project from the bottom plate portion 111c toward the distal end side.

Further, an upward-projecting locking protrusion 135 as a mating locking member is formed on the upper face portion 111a disposed above the side wall portion 111b (positive Z-axis direction). The locking protrusion 135 is formed on the distal end side, and includes: an inclined surface 135a inclined with respect to the X axis; top surface 135b, parallel to the X-axis; and a vertical surface 135c formed on the rear end side (the X-axis positive direction end side) of the top surface 135b in parallel with the Z-axis.

The connector 1 includes: a base 11 as a first base integrally formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin or the like and fitted with the mating connector 101; and a terminal (not shown), a first terminal of metal, mounted in the base 11.

The base 11 includes a base body 12 and a covering portion 13 covering the periphery of the base body 12.

The base body 12 includes: a base 12b near the rear end 11r of the base 11; a fitting portion 12c extending forward from the base portion 12b and fitted to the fitting base 111 of the mating connector 101; and a main body through hole 21 penetrating from the front end 11f to the rear end 11r of the base 11. The number of the body through holes 21 may be any number, wherein only the case where the number is two according to the number of the wires 91 will be described below. In addition, each of the body through holes 21 accommodates a terminal connected to a tip portion of each of the lead wires 91 and a tip portion of each of the lead wires 91. Further, an integrally formed cylindrical elastic sealing member 81 made of resin such as rubber including silicone rubber is fitted around the fitting portion 12 c.

The cover 13 includes: a front top plate 13a covering the upper side of the fitting portion 12 c; a pair of front side plate sections 13b covering both right and left sides of the fitting section 12 c; a front bottom plate 13c covering the lower part of the fitting part 12 c; a pair of rear side plate portions 13d covering both left and right sides above the base portion 12 b; and a rear bottom plate portion 13e covering both right and left sides of the base portion 12b and a lower portion of the base portion 12 b. In addition, a fitting space 22 as a space that is open at the front end 11f and extends rearward (the X-axis negative direction) is formed between the inner surface of the covering portion 13 and the outer surface of the fitting portion 12 c. The fitting space 22 accommodates a portion of the front end side (X-axis negative direction end side) of the fitting base 111 when the connector 1 is fitted to the mating connector 101.

The lock member 31 is accommodated in a space between the front top plate 13 and a space above the fitting portion 12c to a space defined by the rear side plate 13d on the left and right above the base portion 12 b. This locking member 31 is a member that serves as a member for locking the locking protrusion 135 included as a mating locking member in the mating connector 101 (when the connector 1 is fitted with the mating connector 101), and serves as a locking mechanism together with the locking protrusion 135.

The lock member 31 is a member that swings in the X-Z plane (with the vicinity of the middle of the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) as the direction of fitting with the mating connector 101 as the center), and is also a member having a frame shape with four corners. Specifically, the locking member 31 has: a pair of left and right beam members 33 extending in the front-rear direction as the direction in which the mating connector 101 is fitted; a front beam member 35 extending in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) to be coupled to the front ends of the left and right beam members 33; and a rear beam member 37 extending in the left-right direction to be coupled to rear ends of the left and right beam members 33. The front beam member 35 serves as an engagement portion with which the locking protrusion 135 is engaged and is formed on the front end side (X-axis positive direction end side), having: a front face 35a, parallel to the Z axis; a bottom surface 35b parallel to the X-axis; and a vertical surface 35c formed on the rear end side (the X-axis negative direction end side) of the bottom surface 35b so as to be parallel to the Z-axis. Further, in the unlocking process, the rear beam member 37 serves as an operation portion through which the operator performs a depressing operation with his finger or the like.

Further, the locking member 31 connects the left and right beam members 33 and the upper surface 12a of the base body 12 and has a support member 32 for supporting the locking member 31 in a swinging manner. The support member 32 includes: the first elastic member 32a; a pair of left and right second elastic members 32b connected to free ends (X-axis negative direction ends) of the first elastic members 32a; a holding member 32c connected to the base end (X-axis positive direction end) of the first elastic member 32a; and a coupling member 32d for coupling a lower surface of the holding member 32c to the upper surface 12a of the base body 12. The upper end of the second elastic member 32b is connected to the lower surface of the beam member 33. In addition, if a force is applied from the left and right beam members 33 during locking or unlocking, the first elastic member 32a and the second elastic member 32b are each elastically deformed and function as the elastic member. Note that, in the example shown in fig. 5, the boundary between the base end of the first elastic member 32a and the holding member 32c is indicated by a broken line 32e, and the boundary between the right and left second elastic members 32b and the beam member 33 is indicated by a broken line 32 f.

The first elastic member 32a is a plate member that extends in the left-right direction from a position directly below the left beam member 33 to a position directly below the right beam member 33 and extends from the holding member 32c to the rear end 11r of the base 11. In addition, as shown in fig. 5, in an initial state where no external force is applied, the upper surface of the first elastic member 32a is parallel to the X axis, and the lower surface of the first elastic member 32a is an inclined surface that rises rearward. Therefore, the thickness (Z-axis direction dimension) of the first elastic member 32a is thickest at the base end and gradually decreases toward the free end. As a result, the force from the left and right beam members 33 is applied to the free ends via the second elastic members 32b, wherein the stress distribution generated inside the first elastic members 32a is substantially uniform as compared with the case of a constant thickness. Further, since the lower surface of the first elastic member 32a is an inclined surface rising rearward, the interval between the lower surface and the upper surface 12a of the base body 12 becomes larger rearward, and at the same time, the downward movable range of the free end of the first elastic member 32a becomes larger.

On the one hand, the thickness of the holding member 32c is equal to or greater than the thickness of the base end of the first elastic member 32a and most of the lower surface of the holding member 32c is coupled to the upper surface 12a of the base body 12 via the coupling member 32d, the holding member 32c having higher rigidity than the first elastic member 32a, so that when a force is applied to the free end of the first elastic member 32a, the holding member 32c is hardly deformed and does not function as an elastic member. Further, since the coupling member 32d also has a large size in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and a small size in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), when a force is applied to the free end of the first elastic member 32a, the coupling member 32d is hardly deformed and does not function as an elastic member.

On the one hand, the shape and size of the second elastic member 32b as viewed from the side almost coincide with those of the coupling member 32d, and as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the second elastic members 32b separated left and right are connected to both left and right ends of the free end of the first elastic member 32a, wherein the dimension of each second elastic member 32b in the width direction (Y-axis direction) is much smaller than that of the coupling member 32d. Therefore, when force is applied from the left and right beam members 33 during locking or unlocking, the second elastic member 32b elastically deforms and functions as an elastic member.

In this manner, the support member 32 includes a first elastic member 32a and a second elastic member 32b each functioning as an elastic member. In addition, as shown in fig. 5, the elastic member has a substantially L-letter shape in a range from a broken line 32e to a broken line 32f (i.e., from the base end of the first elastic member 32a to the upper end of the second elastic member 32 b) when viewed from the side, and thus has a long elastic length. Therefore, the deformation range of the elastic member is large, which enables the elastic member to be elastically deformed. As a result, the pair of left and right beam members 33 can swing in the X-Z plane with portions having a substantially L-shape, indicated by

broken lines

32e and 32f, at both ends of the elastic member serving as fulcrums.

Note that if the thickness (dimension in the Z-axis direction) of the base end of the first elastic member 32a indicated by the broken line 32e is a, and the thickness (dimension in the Z-axis direction) of the beam member 33 at the boundary with the second elastic member 32B indicated by the broken line 32f is B, a < B is desirable, and 2a < B is more desirable. In this manner, by the relationship between the thickness of the base end of the first elastic member 32a and the thickness of the beam member 33 at the boundary with the second elastic member 32b thus set, the first elastic member 32a and the second elastic member 32b each suitably function as an elastic member in the locking or unlocking process, while the beam member 33 can smoothly swing with both ends of the elastic member as fulcrums.

A projecting piece 38 projecting outward in the width direction (Y-axis direction) is formed near the rear end of each beam member 33. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, upper projections 14a and side projections 14b projecting inward in the width direction (Y-axis direction) are formed near the rear ends of the left and right rear side plate portions 13 d. When the projecting piece 38 abuts against the upper side projection 14a and the lower side projection 14b, the displacement in the up-down direction at the rear end of the beam member 33 as the rear end of the lock member 31 is stopped. That is, when the protruding piece 38 abuts against the upper projection 14a and the lower projection 14b, the upper and lower ends of the range in which the rear end of the beam member 33 can move in the up-down direction are defined. As a result, the range in which the beam member 33 can swing is defined.

The operation of fitting the connector 1 with the mating connector 101 will be described below.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a fitting state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment. Fig. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a fitting state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment. Fig. 8 is a partially cut-away side view showing a fitting state of the connector and the mating connector according to the present embodiment.

At the start of the fitting operation of fitting the connector 1 and the mating connector 101, the operator controls the postures of the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 with his or her fingers or the like, such as shown in fig. 1, 3, and 4, to place the front end 11f of the base 11 of the connector 1 at the front end facing the mating base 111 of the mating connector 101. More specifically, the front end of the fitting portion 12c of the base body 12 of the base 11 is placed at the front end of the connector receiving cavity 113 facing the mating base 111.

Subsequently, the operator moves the connector 1 in the X-axis direction relative to the mating connector 101 while inserting the fitting portion 12c of the base body 12 of the base 11 into the connector receiving cavity 113 of the mating base 111. In this way, the upper surface portion 111a of the side wall portion 111b of the mating base 111 is relatively inserted between the fitting portion 12c of the base body 12 and the front top plate portion 13a of the covering portion 13. In addition, the front beam member 35 of the lock member 31 relatively advances along the upper face portion 111a of the fitting base 111 and passes over the lock projection 135 projecting upward from the upper face portion 111 a.

At this time, the front beam member 35 first slides forward from the locking protrusion 135 along the inclined surface 135a of the locking protrusion 135 and is thereby pressed upward. In doing so, since the structural member 32a and the second elastic member 32b each functioning as an elastic member are elastically deformed, the beam member 33 swings to rotate in the clockwise direction in fig. 8. Since the elastic member has a substantially L-shaped shape and a long elastic length, the deformation range is large, which enables elastic deformation of the elastic member. Further, since the lower surface of the first elastic member 32a serves as an inclined surface, the range in which the free end thereof is movable downward becomes large. Therefore, the beam member 33 swings smoothly, which enables the front beam member 35 to rise smoothly.

Subsequently, when the operator further moves the connector 1 in the X-axis direction relative to the mating connector 101, the fitting portion 12c of the base body 12 of the base 11 is inserted deep into the connector receiving cavity 113 of the mating base 111, while the mating terminals 151 provided in the connector receiving cavity 113 enter the body through-holes 21 formed in the base body 12 and contact the terminals received in the body through-holes 21 to be conducted. Further, the sealing member 81 fitted to the fitting portion 12c is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 111b of the fitting base 111 and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 12c to be compressed, and then sealed between the inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 111b and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 12 c. As a result, the connector 1 is fitted to the mating connector 101.

Further, the front beam member 35 of the locking member 31 goes over the inclined surface 135a and the top surface 135b of the locking protrusion 135, and then reaches the rear end side of the top surface 135 b. In doing so, since both the first elastic member 32a and the second elastic member 32b exert elastic characteristics and return to the shape before deformation, the beam member 33 swings to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 8. In addition, the front beam member 35 descends along the vertical face 135c of the locking projection 135 and engages with the locking projection 135. Specifically, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the vertical faces 35c of the front beam member 35 and the vertical faces 135c of the locking protrusions 135 face each other while the front beam member 35 is engaged with the locking protrusions 135. Therefore, the locking member 31 and the locking protrusion 135 are reliably locked, so that the fitting between the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 is not unnecessarily released.

In this state, for example, if an external force for releasing the fitting between the connector 1 and the mating connector 101, such as a force that pulls the wires 91 rearward (X-axis negative direction), is applied, the beam members 33 cannot be displaced rearward because the front beam members 35 are engaged with the locking projections 135, while the holding members 32c connected with the upper surface 12a of the base body 12 via the coupling members 32d receive the rearward-pulling force. In doing so, the first and second

elastic members

32a and 32b, which are elastic members having a substantially L-shaped shape and connected at both ends to the beam member 33, and the holding member 32c are elastically deformed to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 8. As a result, the portion of the beam member 33 connected to the upper end of the second elastic member 32b rises without the front end of the beam member 33 rising, which makes it difficult to release the engagement between the front beam member 35 connected to the front end and the locking protrusion 135. Therefore, even if an external force for releasing the fitting between the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 is applied, the lock between the lock member 31 and the lock projection 135 is reliably maintained, preventing the fitting between the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 from being released.

Note that, if the fitting must be released in order to remove the connector 1 from the mating connector 101, when the operator presses down the rear beam member 37 with his finger or the like, the beam member 33 swings to rotate in the clockwise direction of fig. 8 while the front beam member 35 connected to the front end rises. As a result, since the engagement of the front beam member 35 and the locking projection 135 is released and the locking is released, the operator relatively moves the connector 1 in the direction opposite to the direction during the fitting thereof, thereby removing the connector 1 from the mating connector 101.

Further, as described above, when the protruding pieces 38 abut the upper side projections 14a and the lower side projections 14b, the upper and lower ends of the range in which the rear end of the beam member 33 is movable in the up-down direction are defined. As a result, the range in which the beam member 33 swings is limited to a certain extent, while the range in which the first elastic member 32a and the second elastic member 32b, each of which is an elastic member, deform is limited to a certain extent. Therefore, the first elastic member 32a and the second elastic member 32b, each of which is an elastic member, are not damaged by excessive deformation.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the connector 1 includes the base 11 made of an insulating material, in which the connector 1 is fitted with the mating connector 101, and the mating connector 101 has the mating base 111 made of an insulating material. In addition, the base 11 includes: a base body 12; a locking member 31 for locking the locking protrusion 135 of the mating base 111; and a support member 32 connected to the base body 12 to support the locking member 31 in a swingable manner, wherein the locking member 31 includes: a pair of left and right beam members 33 extending in the front-rear direction which is a direction of fitting with the connector 101; a front beam member 35 that connects front ends of the left and right beam members 33 to be engageable with the mating lock member 135; and a rear beam member 37 connecting rear ends of the left and right beam members 33, and wherein the support member 32 includes an elastic member having a substantially L-shape when viewed from the side.

This makes it possible to have good click feeling and operability and high locking property at the time of fitting with the mating connector 101, and reliably maintain fitting with the mating connector 101. Further, the connector 1 has improved reliability, reduced manufacturing costs, and improved durability.

Further, the elastic member includes: a first elastic member 32a extending rearward, a base end of which is held by a holding member 32c attached to the base body 12; and a pair of left and right second elastic members 32b extending upward and connected to free ends of the first elastic members 32a, upper ends of the second elastic members 32b being connected to the respective beam members 33, wherein a lower surface of the first elastic member 32a is an inclined surface rising rearward. Therefore, since the thickness of the first elastic member 32a gradually decreases toward the free end, when the force from the left and right beam members 33 is applied to the free end via the second elastic member 32b, the distribution of the stress generated inside the first elastic member 32a becomes uniform. Further, since the interval between the lower surface of the first elastic member 32a and the base body 12 becomes larger rearward, the range in which the free end of the first elastic member 32a can move downward becomes larger.

Further, the first elastic member 32a is a plate member extending from a position directly below one beam member 33 to a position directly below the other beam member 33, and the left and right second elastic members 32 are connected to left and right ends of a free end of the first elastic member 32 a. Therefore, the first elastic member 32a and the second elastic member 32b, which are elastic members, each have a long elastic length from the base end of the first elastic member 32a to the upper end of the second elastic member 32b, which allows them to be elastically deformed in a large deformation range. The pair of left and right beam members 33 are swingable about the base ends of the first elastic members 32a and the upper ends of the second elastic members 32b as fulcrums.

Further, each beam member 33 is thicker than the base end of the first elastic member 32 a. As a result, the first elastic member 32a and the second elastic member 32b each suitably function as an elastic member in the locking or unlocking process.

Further, the lock member 31 includes a protruding piece 38 formed near the rear end thereof to protrude outward in the width direction, wherein the base 11 includes an upper protrusion 14a and a lower protrusion 14b formed on both left and right sides of the lock member 31, wherein when the protruding piece 38 abuts the upper protrusion 14a or the lower protrusion 14b, the displacement of the rear end of the lock member 31 in the up-down direction is stopped. Therefore, since the range of deformation of the first and second

elastic members

32a and 32b is limited to a certain extent, the first and second

elastic members

32a and 32b are not damaged by excessive deformation.

The disclosure of the present specification illustrates features that are relevant to the preferred and exemplary embodiments. Various other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will naturally occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be applied to a connector.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a base made of an insulating material, wherein the connector is fitted with a mating connector having a mating base made of an insulating material,

the base includes: a base body; a locking member for locking the mating locking member of the mating base; and a support member connected to the base body to support the lock member in a swingable manner,

the locking member includes: a pair of left and right beam members extending in a front-rear direction which is a direction of fitting with the fitting connector; an engaging portion that connects the front ends of the left and right beam members so as to be engageable with the mating lock member; and an operation part for connecting the rear ends of the left and right beam members,

the support member includes an elastic member having a substantially L-shape serving as a fulcrum when viewed from the side,

the elastic member includes a plate-shaped first elastic member and a pair of left and right second elastic members,

the thickness of the first elastic member is thickest at the base end and gradually decreases toward the free end, and the lower surface of the first elastic member is an inclined surface that rises rearward.

2. The connector of claim 1,

the first elastic member extending rearward, a base end of which is held by a holding member connected to the base body; and

a pair of left and right second elastic members extending upward and connected to free ends of the first elastic members,

the upper ends of the second elastic members are connected to the respective beam members.

3. The connector of claim 2,

the first elastic member is a plate member extending from a position directly below one beam member to a position directly below the other beam member,

the left and right second elastic members are connected to left and right ends of a free end of the first elastic member.

4. The connector according to claim 2 or 3,

each beam member is thicker than the base end of the first elastic member.

5. The connector according to claim 2 or 3,

the locking member includes a tab formed to protrude outward in the width direction near a rear end thereof,

the base includes upper and lower protrusions formed at both left and right sides of the locking member,

when the tab abuts against the upper side projection or the lower side projection, the displacement of the rear end of the lock member in the up-down direction is stopped.

6. The connector of claim 4,