CN113871980A - Connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a miniaturized connector assembly with a jogged locking mechanism. The connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector that is fittable from behind with respect to the first connector. The first connector has a first contact, a first housing holding the first contact. The first contact includes a first latch portion having a first latch surface facing forward. The second connector has a second contact and a second housing holding the second contact. The second housing includes a second locking portion having a second locking surface facing rearward. At least one of the first locking portion and the second locking portion is supported by the support portion that is elastically deformable, and is displaceable in the vertical direction. In the fitted state, the first locking surface is located behind the second locking surface and faces the second locking surface.

Description

Connector assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly, to a connector assembly having a fitting locking mechanism.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses an example of a connector assembly having a fitting lock mechanism.

As shown in fig. 17, a connector assembly 90 described in patent document 1 includes a male connector 92 and a female connector 94 that are fitted to each other in the front-rear direction. The male connector 92 has a male terminal 920 and a male housing 922 holding the male terminal 920. A lock projection 924 that projects upward in the vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction is provided on the upper surface of the male housing 922. On the other hand, the female connector 94 includes a female terminal 940 and a female housing 942 for holding the female terminal 940. The female housing 942 is provided with a locking arm 944.

As shown in fig. 17, when the male connector 92 and the female connector 94 have been fitted to each other, the male housing 922 partially houses the female housing 942. At this time, the locking portion of the locking arm 944 is positioned forward of the locking protrusion 924 in the front-rear direction, and the female connector 94 is prevented from moving rearward with respect to the male connector 92. In other words, the locking arm 944 and the locking projection 924 function as a fitting locking mechanism. In this way, the fitting state of the male connector 92 and the female connector 94 can be maintained.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2008-52971

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

The connector assembly 90 described in patent document 1 is configured such that the female connector 94 is partially housed in the male connector 92, and the locking arm 944 provided in the female connector 94 is partially positioned above the locking protrusion 924 formed on the upper surface of the male connector 92. In other words, the connector assembly 90 is configured to maintain the fitted state between the male housing 922 and the female housing 942. Therefore, in the connector assembly 90, there is a problem that its size is large at least in the up-down direction.

The invention aims to provide a connector assembly which is provided with a jogged locking mechanism and realizes miniaturization.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention provides a connector assembly provided as a first connector assembly, comprising: a first connector; and a second connector which can be fitted to the first connector from the rear in the front-rear direction,

the first connector has at least one first contact and a first housing formed of an insulator,

the first contactor has a first contact portion, a first held portion held by the first housing, and a first locking portion,

the first locking part has a first locking surface facing forward in the front-rear direction,

the second connector has at least one second contact and a second housing formed of an insulator,

the second contact has a second contact portion that contacts the first contact portion in a state where the first connector and the second connector are fitted to each other, and a second held portion that is held by the second housing,

the second housing has a second locking portion,

the second locking part has a second locking surface facing backward in the front-back direction,

at least one of the first contact and the second housing has an elastically deformable support portion,

at least one of the first locking portion and the second locking portion is supported by the support portion and is displaceable in a vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction by elastic deformation of the support portion,

in the fitted state, the first locking surface is located rearward of the second locking surface in the front-rear direction and faces the second locking surface.

In the connector assembly according to the present invention, the second housing has the support portion in the first connector assembly.

In addition, the present invention provides, as a third connector assembly, a connector assembly in which, in the second connector assembly,

the second locking part is positioned at the front end of the supporting part,

the front end of the second shell forms an abutting part,

the tip of the second locking portion also functions as a part of the contact portion,

the first housing has an abutted portion,

the first locking portion is located between the first contact portion and the first held portion in the front-rear direction,

the first locking surface is separated from the abutted part in the front-rear direction and is opposite to the abutted part in a state that the first connector and the second connector are not embedded,

in the fitted state, the second locking portion is located between the abutted portion and the first locking surface.

In addition, the present invention provides, as a fourth connector assembly, a connector assembly in which, in the second or third connector assembly,

the second contactor is a member connected to the front end of the cable,

the second housing includes a stopper portion having a stopper surface,

the second contactor has a blocked portion,

the blocking surface is positioned behind the blocked part to prevent the second contactor from moving relatively backward relative to the second shell,

the engaging portion is provided at a position different from the supporting portion in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

In addition, the connector assembly of the present invention provided as a fifth connector assembly is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth connector assemblies,

the second housing has a receiving portion for receiving the first contact portion in the fitted state,

the second contact portion is located in the receiving portion.

In addition, the present invention provides, as a sixth connector assembly, a connector assembly in which, in a fifth connector assembly,

the second locking part protrudes into the accommodating part,

in the fitted state, the first locking portion is located in the housing portion.

In addition, the present invention provides, as a seventh connector assembly, a connector assembly in which, in the fifth or sixth connector assembly,

the second housing has a peripheral wall portion,

the support portion and the peripheral wall portion surround the housing portion.

In addition, the connector assembly of the present invention is provided as an eighth connector assembly, in any one of the fifth to seventh connector assemblies,

the second housing has a guide portion and a guide portion,

the induction part is crossed with the front and back direction,

the guide portion is located behind the guide portion and extends in the front-rear direction,

the guiding portion and the guiding portion are configured to guide the first contact portion to be accommodated in the accommodating portion,

the guide part has a pair of guide side surfaces facing each other in a spaced-apart manner,

the dimension between the guide side surfaces is smaller than the dimension of the second locking portion in a lateral direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction.

Effects of the invention

In the connector assembly of the present invention, when the first connector and the second connector are fitted to each other, the first locking surface of the first locking portion provided in the first contactor is located rearward in the front-rear direction of the second locking surface of the second locking portion provided in the second housing, and faces the first locking surface. Thus, the first locking portion and the second locking portion function as a fitting locking mechanism, and the second connector is prevented from moving rearward with respect to the first connector. Since the first locking portion is provided in the first contactor, the connector assembly can be miniaturized at least in the vertical direction as compared with a case where the first locking portion is provided in the first housing.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The first connector and the second connector are not fitted to each other. The second connector is connected to the front end of the cable.

Fig. 2 is another perspective view illustrating the connector assembly of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the connector assembly of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line a-a of the connector assembly of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating the connector assembly of fig. 1. The first connector and the second connector are mutually embedded.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B showing the connector assembly of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view showing the connector assembly of fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of the connector assembly of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a second connector included in the connector assembly of fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is another exploded perspective view showing the second connector of fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side view showing the second connector of fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a line D-D of the second connector of fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a front view showing the second connector of fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing a line E-E of the second connector of fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the second connector of fig. 14. The second contact is held by the second housing.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing a modification of the connector assembly of fig. 6.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing the connector assembly disclosed in patent document 1.

Description of reference numerals

10 connector assembly

20 first connector

22 first contactor

220 first connecting part

222 first held portion

224 wide part

226 first contact part

228 recess

229 front edge

230 first stop part

232 first clamping surface

24 additional contactor

26 first casing

262 abutted part

30 second connector

32 second contactor

320 second connecting part

322 first tubular part (barrel)

324 second barrel portion

330 second held portion

332 front part

334 rear part

340 second contact part

342 is blocked by a block part (by hook buckle part, by fixed part)

36 second casing

360 bottom plate (peripheral wall)

362 side plate (peripheral wall)

364 middle plate part (peripheral wall part)

366 upper plate part (peripheral wall part)

370 clamp stop part (hook part, fixed part)

372 card baffle surface (hook surface, fixed surface)

380 second stop part

382 second stop surface

384. 384A support part

386 containing part

388 induction part

390 guide part

392 leading flank

396 abutment

50 cable

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, a connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first connector 20 and a second connector 30. In the present embodiment, the first connector 20 is a device-mounted connector mounted on an electronic device (not shown). In addition, the second connector 30 is connected to the front end of the cable 50. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first connector 20 may be configured to be connected to various cables. The second connector 30 may be mounted on an electronic device or a circuit board.

As will be understood from fig. 1, 2, 5, and 7, the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 can be fitted to each other in the front-rear direction. More specifically, the second connector 30 can be fitted to the first connector 20 from behind. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is the X direction. the-X direction is forward and the + X direction is rearward.

As shown in fig. 4, the first connector 20 has at least one first contact 22, a plurality of additional contacts 24, and a first housing 26. In the present embodiment, the number of the first contactors 22 is two. In addition, the number of the additional contactors 24 is four. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The number of the first connectors 20 may be one, or may be three or more. The number of additional contacts 24 is not particularly limited, and may be none.

As shown in fig. 4, the first contact 22 and the additional contact 24 are held by the first housing 26. In the present embodiment, the first contactor 22 and the additional contactor 24 are made of metal, respectively. More specifically, the first contact 22 and the additional contact 24 are each formed by punching a metal plate. The first housing 26 is made of an insulator, for example, an insulating resin. In the present embodiment, the first connector 20 is insert-molded together with the first contactor 22 and the additional contactor 24. In addition, the additional contactor 24 has no direct relation to the present invention, and thus, description thereof is omitted hereinafter.

As shown in fig. 4 and 6, the first contacts 22 are each plate-shaped and extend in the front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The shape of the first contact 22 is not particularly limited, and may be at least partially cylindrical or cylindrical.

As shown in fig. 6, each of the first contacts 22 has a first connecting portion 220, a first held portion 222, a wide portion 224, and a first contact portion 226, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first connecting portion 220, the first held portion 222, the wide portion 224, and the first contact portion 226 are arranged in this order in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 6, the first connection portion 220 of the first contact 22 has a substantially square shape when viewed in a lateral direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the lateral direction is the Y direction.

As shown in fig. 6, the first held portion 222 of the first contact 22 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and extends rearward from the first connecting portion 220. The dimension of the first held portion 222 is smaller than the dimension of the first connecting portion 220 in the vertical direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the lateral direction. In the present embodiment, the vertical direction is the Z direction. The + Z direction is upward and the-Z direction is downward.

As shown in fig. 6, the wide portion 224 of the first contact 22 extends rearward from the first held portion 222. The dimension of the wide portion 224 is larger than the dimension of the first held portion 222 in the vertical direction. The rear portion of the wide portion 224 is tapered so that its dimension decreases in the vertical direction as it goes rearward.

As shown in fig. 6, the first contact portion 226 of the first contact 22 extends rearward from the wide width portion 224. The size of the first contact portion 226 is smaller than the size of the wide width portion 224 in the up-down direction. The rear portion of the first contact portion 226 is tapered so that its dimension decreases in the vertical direction as it goes rearward.

As understood from fig. 4 and 6, the first held portion 222 is held by the first housing 26. In the present embodiment, not only the first held portion 222 but also the first connecting portion 220 and the wide portion 224 are each partially held by the first housing 26. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first housing 26 may be any housing as long as the first held portion 222 is at least partially held.

As shown in fig. 6, a recess 228 that is recessed upward is formed in the front-rear direction center portion of the wide portion 224. Due to the presence of the recess 228, a part of the wide portion 224 forms a first locking portion 230 that protrudes downward in the vertical direction. In other words, the first contact 22 has a first locking portion 230 protruding downward. In the present embodiment, the first locking portion 230 is located between the first contact portion 226 and the first held portion 222 in the front-rear direction. The first locking portion 230 has a first locking surface 232 facing forward in the front-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 9 to 11, the second connector 30 includes at least one second contact 32 and a second housing 36. In the present embodiment, the number of the second contactors 32 is two. The number of the second contacts 32 corresponds to the number of the first contacts 22 of the first connector 20. The second contactors 32 are made of metal, respectively. More specifically, the second contact 32 is formed by punching and bending one metal plate. The second case 36 is formed of an insulator, for example, an insulating resin. The second housing 36 holds the second contact 32.

As shown in fig. 11 and 12, the second contacts 32 respectively have a second connecting portion 320, a second held portion 330, and a pair of second contact portions 340. The second connection portion 320 has a first tube portion 322 and a second tube portion 324, and is connected to the cable 50. The second held portion 330 is located in front of the second connecting portion 320, and has a front portion 332 and a rear portion 334.

As will be understood from fig. 9 and 10, the rear portion 334 of the second held portion 330 is formed in a quadrangular cylindrical shape and extends in the front-rear direction. A locked portion (fixed portion) 342 is provided on the upper surface of the rear portion 334. The front portion 332 of the second held portion 330 extends forward from the rear portion 334. The front portion 332 opens upward, forward, and laterally.

As shown in fig. 12, the second contact portions 340 extend laterally inward and obliquely forward from the rear portion 334 of the second held portion 330, respectively. The second contact portions 340 have contact points, respectively. The contact points are laterally opposite each other. As shown in fig. 8, the second contact portion 340 is in contact with the first contact portion 226 of the first contact 22 in a fitted state in which the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are fitted to each other. In more detail, the contact point of the second contact portion 340 is in contact with the first contact portion 226 of the first contactor 22.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the second housing 36 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that opens forward and rearward. In more detail, the second case 36 has a bottom plate portion 360, a pair of side plate portions 362, a middle plate portion 364, and an upper plate portion 366. The second housing 36 has a pair of locking portions (hook portions, fixing portions) 370 at an upper portion thereof. The second housing 36 has a pair of second locking portions 380 and support portions 384 corresponding thereto in a lower portion thereof.

As will be understood from fig. 9 and 14, the catches 370 are lance-shaped catches (places), respectively. More specifically, the catching portion 370 is formed in a cantilever shape and extends obliquely downward toward the front. The catching portion 370 is elastically deformable. In addition, the catching portion 370 has a catching surface 372 facing obliquely upward toward the front. The catch surface 372 is displaceable at least in the up-down direction due to elastic deformation of the catch portion 370. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The catching portion 370 may be formed as a simple recess or a protrusion.

As can be understood from fig. 10 and 14, the support portions 384 are each formed in a cantilever shape and extend forward. The support part 384 supports the corresponding second locking part 380. The second locking portion 380 is located at the front end of the support portion 384. The second locking portion 380 has a second locking surface 382 facing rearward in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the second locking surface 382 is formed as an inclined surface extending obliquely rearward from the support part 384. The second stop surface 382 may be a single flat surface or a curved surface. The second locking surface 382 may be a plurality of continuous flat surfaces, curved surfaces, or a combination of flat and curved surfaces. The second locking surface 382 makes contact with the first locking surface 232 (see fig. 6) at an acute angle in a fitted state in which the first connector 20 (see fig. 6) and the second connector 30 are fitted to each other. Thus, when the second connector 30 is pulled rearward with respect to the first connector 20, the second connector 30 is not easily detached from the first connector 20. The support part 384 is elastically deformable. The second locking portion 380 is displaceable at least in the vertical direction due to elastic deformation of the support portion 384.

As shown in fig. 14, in the present embodiment, the catch portion 370 is located rearward of the support portion 384 in the front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The catch portion 370 may be located at a position at least partially overlapping the support portion 384 in the front-rear direction. With this configuration, the second connector 30 can be reduced in size in the front-rear direction.

As will be understood from fig. 9, 10, and 14, in the present embodiment, the catch portion 370 is provided on the upper plate portion 366, and the support portion 384 is provided on the bottom plate portion 360. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The locking portion 370 may be provided on the bottom plate portion 360, and the support portion 384 may be provided on the top plate portion 366. Alternatively, the catch portion 370 and the support portion 384 may be provided on the side plate portion 362. In either case, the catch portion 370 and the support portion 384 are provided at different positions from each other in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In order to achieve both miniaturization and strength assurance of the second housing 36.

As shown in fig. 12 and 14, the second housing 36 has a pair of receiving portions 386. The receiving portions 386 correspond to the second contacts 32, respectively. The receiving portion 386 receives at least the first contact portion 226 of the first contact 22 in a fitted state in which the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are fitted to each other. The bottom plate 360, the side plate 362, the middle plate 364, and the upper plate 366 of the second housing 36 form a peripheral wall portion surrounding the receiving portion 386. As can be understood from fig. 13, the peripheral wall portion and the support portion 384 surround the receiving portion 386 in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. As can be understood from fig. 6 and 8, the receiving portions 386 receive the corresponding second contacts 32, respectively. In the present embodiment, the second locking portions 380 protrude into the corresponding receiving portions 386.

As shown in fig. 12 to 14, the second housing 36 further includes a guide portion 390 and a guide portion 388 corresponding to the receiving portion 386, respectively. The inductive portion 388 is formed by three flat surfaces provided in the upper plate portion 366, the side plate portion 362, and the middle plate portion 364. These planes intersect the front-to-back direction. This is to facilitate insertion of the first contact portion 226 of the first contact 22 into the receiving portion 386. The guide portion 390 is located behind the guide portion 388 and extends rearward along the front-rear direction. In the front-rear direction, the guide 390 is preferably large in size. This is to suppress the inclination of the first contact portion 226 inserted into the receiving portion 386.

As shown in fig. 12, the guide portion 390 has a pair of guide side surfaces 392 facing each other so as to be spaced apart (spaced apart) in the lateral direction. In the lateral direction, the dimension between the guide side surfaces 392 is slightly larger than the dimension of the first contact portion 226 (refer to fig. 4). This is to allow insertion of the first contact portion 226. Further, the dimension between the guide side surfaces 392 is smaller than the dimensions of the second locking portion 380 and the support portion 384 in the lateral direction. This is because, in order to ensure the strength of the support part 384 and the second locking part 380, their dimensions are increased in the lateral direction.

As understood from fig. 14 and 15, the second contact 32 is inserted into the receiving portion 386 of the second housing 36 from the rear. At this time, the engaged portion 342 elastically deforms the engaging portion 370, and moves forward of the engaging portion 370. When the engaged portion 342 moves forward of the engaging portion 370, the engaging surface 372 is located behind the engaged portion 342 due to the restoring force of the engaging portion 370. The engaging surface 372 located behind the engaged portion 342 prevents the second contactor 32 from moving rearward relative to the second housing 36.

As shown in fig. 4 and 15, when the second contact 32 is inserted into the receiving portion 386 of the second housing 36, the second held portion 330 comes into contact with the inner surface of the receiving portion 386 of the second housing 36, and is held by the second housing 36. The second contact portion 340 is located in the receiving portion 386.

As understood from fig. 6 and 8, when the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are fitted to each other, the first contact portion 226 of the first contact 22 is received in the receiving portion 386. At this time, the guide portion 390 and the guide portion 388 of the second housing 36 guide the first contact portion 226 to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 386. The first contact portion 226 received in the receiving portion 386 contacts and is electrically connected to the second contact portion 340 located within the receiving portion 386. In this way, in the fitting state where the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are fitted to each other, the first contact portion 226 and the second contact portion 340 are located in the receiving portion 386 and protected from the outside by the second housing 36.

As can be understood from fig. 6, when the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are fitted to each other, the wide-width portion 224 (the first locking portion 230) is also received in the receiving portion 386. When the first locking portion 230 enters the receiving portion 386, it abuts against the second locking portion 380, and presses the second locking portion 380 downward. The support part 384 elastically deforms, and the second locking part 380 moves downward. When the first locking surface 232 moves rearward of the second locking surface 382, the first locking surface 232 is positioned rearward of the second locking surface 382 by the restoring force of the support part 384. The first locking portion 230 is located in the receiving portion 386, and the first locking surface 232 faces the second locking surface 382. When the second connector 30 is moved rearward relative to the first connector 20, the first locking surface 232 abuts against the second locking surface 382, thereby preventing the second connector 30 from being disengaged. This can maintain the fitted state of the first connector 20 and the second connector 30.

As can be understood from fig. 6 and 8, the front end of the second housing 36 constitutes an abutting portion 396 that abuts against the first housing 26. The tip of the second locking portion 380 functions as a part of the abutting portion 396. The first housing 26 has the abutted portion 262 opposed to the abutting portion 396 of the second housing 36. In the present embodiment, the abutted portion 262 is the rear surface of the first housing 26.

As can be understood from fig. 2, 3, and 6, the first locking surface 232 is separated from the abutted portion 262 in the front-rear direction and is opposed to the front edge 229 of the recess 228 in the non-fitted state. In the present embodiment, the front edge 229 of the recess 228 of the first contact 22 is formed on the same plane as the abutted portion 262 of the first housing 26. Therefore, the front edge 229 of the recess 228 of the first contact 22 may be regarded as a part of the abutted portion 262. Therefore, the first locking surface 232 can be opposed to the abutted portion 262. The front edge 229 of the recess 228 is buried in the first housing 26, and may be located forward of the rear surface of the first housing 26 in the front-rear direction. In this case, the first locking surface 232 faces the rear surface of the first housing 26. Therefore, in this case, it can be said that the first locking surface 232 faces the contacted portion 262. In this way, the first locking surface 232 faces the contacted portion 262. When the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are not fitted to each other, nothing is present between the first locking portion 230 and the contacted portion 262.

As can be understood from fig. 6, in the fitted state in which the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are fitted to each other, the second locking portion 380 is positioned between the abutted portion 262 and the first locking surface 232. The second locking portion 380 protrudes into the receiving portion 386, and engages with the first locking portion 230 of the first contact 22. Thus, the first locking portion 230 of the first contact 22 and the second locking portion 380 of the second housing 36 function as a fitting locking mechanism. The fitting locking mechanism is not a structure for locking the housings to each other. Therefore, according to this configuration, the size of the connector assembly 10 in the vertical direction can be made smaller than that of the connector assembly of patent document 1. The second locking portion 380 is not located further forward than the abutting portion 396 in the front-rear direction. According to this structure, the size of the connector assembly 10 can be reduced in the front-rear direction.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the first locking portion 230 is formed by forming the concave portion 228 in the wide portion 224, and a protrusion protruding downward in the vertical direction may be provided as the first locking portion 230 in a connection portion (corresponding to the wide portion 224) connecting the first connection portion 220 and the first contact portion 226.

In the above embodiment, the first contact 22 has a plate shape, but may have a cylindrical shape or a cylindrical shape. In this case, the first contactor 22 may be formed in a structure in which a plurality of cylinders having different diameters or a cylindrical phase is continuous. In this case, the first locking portion 230 may be provided by forming a recess or a hole (corresponding to the recess 228), or may be provided by forming a protrusion.

In the above embodiment, the first locking portion 230 cannot be displaced in the vertical direction. However, as shown in fig. 16, the first locking portion 230 supported by the cantilever-like support portion 384A may be provided so that the first locking portion 230 is displaceable at least in the vertical direction. In this case, the second locking portion 380 may or may not be displaceable in the vertical direction. In the present invention, at least one of the first locking portion 230 and the second locking portion 380 may be supported by the support portion 384 and/or 384A, and may be vertically displaceable by elastic deformation of the support portion 384 and/or 384A. Further, in the case where both the first locking portion 230 and the second locking portion 380 are movable in the vertical direction, the deformation amount of each of the support portions 384 and 384A when the first connector 20 is fitted to the second connector 30 can be reduced. On the other hand, when only one of the first locking portion 230 and the second locking portion 380 is movable in the vertical direction, the structure is simple, and the relative positional accuracy of the first locking portion 230 and the second locking portion 380 can be improved.

Claims (8)

1. A connector assembly, comprising: a first connector; and a second connector that is fittable with respect to the first connector from behind in a front-rear direction, the connector assembly being characterized in that:

the first connector has at least one first contact and a first housing formed of an insulator,

the first contactor has a first contact portion, a first held portion held by the first housing, and a first locking portion,

the first locking portion has a first locking surface facing forward in the front-rear direction,

the second connector has at least one second contact and a second housing formed of an insulator,

the second contact has a second contact portion that contacts the first contact portion in a fitted state of the first connector and the second connector, and a second held portion that is held by the second housing,

the second housing has a second detent,

the second locking portion has a second locking surface facing rearward in the front-rear direction,

at least one of the first contactor and the second housing has an elastically deformable support portion,

at least one of the first locking portion and the second locking portion is supported by the support portion and is displaceable in a vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction by elastic deformation of the support portion,

in the fitted state, the first locking surface is located rearward of the second locking surface in the front-rear direction and faces the second locking surface.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the second housing has the support portion.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the second locking portion is located at the front end of the support portion,

the front end of the second housing constitutes an abutment,

the tip of the second locking portion also functions as a part of the contact portion,

the first housing has an abutted portion which,

the first locking portion is located between the first contact portion and the first held portion in the front-rear direction,

the first locking surface is separated from the abutted part in the front-rear direction and is opposite to the abutted part in a state that the first connector and the second connector are not fitted,

in the fitted state, the second locking portion is located between the abutted portion and the first locking surface.

4. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the second contact is a component connected to the front end of the cable,

the second housing includes a catch portion having a catch surface,

the second contactor has a caught portion,

the blocking surface is positioned behind the blocked part and prevents the second contactor from moving relatively backwards relative to the second shell,

the stopper portion is provided at a position different from the support portion in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the second housing has a receiving portion for receiving the first contact portion in the fitted state,

the second contact portion is located in the receiving portion.

6. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the second locking part protrudes into the accommodating part,

in the fitted state, the first locking portion is located in the housing portion.

7. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the second housing has a peripheral wall portion,

the support portion and the peripheral wall portion surround the accommodating portion.

8. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the second housing has an inductive portion and a guide portion,

the induction part is crossed with the front and back direction,

the guide portion is located rearward of the induction portion and extends in the front-rear direction,

the guide portion and the guide portion are configured to guide the first contact portion to be accommodated in the accommodating portion,

the guide portion has a pair of guide side surfaces facing away from each other,

the dimension between the guide side surfaces is smaller than the dimension of the second locking portion in a lateral direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction.

Images