EP4734294A1

EP4734294A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: EP4734294A1
Application number: EP24824685.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masafumi SHIMASAKI
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2023-06-20
Filing date: 2024-06-13
Publication date: 2026-04-29
Also published as: JP2025001150A; WO2024262403A1; CN121368848A

Abstract

A connector 10 includes: an outer housing 30; at least one inner housing 20 to be inserted into the outer housing 30 from one side in a first direction; and an electric wire cover 40 that accommodates an electric wire 14 led from the inner housing 20. The electric wire cover 40 is mounted to the outer housing 30 on the one side in the first direction, and the electric wire cover 40 includes a contact portion 46 that contacts the inner housing 20 from the one side in the first direction.

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

Conventionally, a lever connector described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-123385 (Patent Literature 1 below) has been known. The lever connector described in Patent Literature 1 includes a housing and a lever. The housing includes an inner housing retaining a female contact, an outer housing to be mounted to the inner housing, and a wire cover to be mounted to the outer housing. The wire cover is provided with an opening, so that an electric wire connected to the female contact is led to the outside from the opening through the inside of the wire cover.

Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-123385

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

The process of assembling the above-described lever connector includes, for example, a step of accommodating the female contact connected to the electric wire into the inner housing and a step of inserting the inner housing into the outer housing. There is a concern that, in the step of inserting the inner housing into the outer housing, the inner housing may be placed in a half-inserted state with respect to the outer housing.

Solution to Problem

The connector of the present disclosure is a connector including: an outer housing; at least one inner housing to be inserted into the outer housing from one side in a first direction; and an electric wire cover that accommodates an electric wire led from the inner housing. The electric wire cover is mounted to the outer housing on the one side in the first direction, and the electric wire cover includes a contact portion that contacts the inner housing from the one side in the first direction.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

According to the present disclosure, a connector that makes it possible to prevent half-insertion of the inner housing with respect to the outer housing can be provided.

Brief Description of Drawings

[Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment.
[Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of the connector.
[Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A of Figure 2.
[Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B of Figure 2.
[Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along C-C of Figure 2.
[Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along D-D of Figure 3.
[Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along E-E of Figure 4.
[Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along F-F of Figure 4.
[Figure 9] Figure 9 is a view of an electric wire cover in a first position in the cross section along F-F of Figure 4.
[Figure 10] Figure 10 is a view of the electric wire cover in the first position in the cross section along C-C of Figure 2.
[Figure 11] Figure 11 is a view of the electric wire cover in the first position in the cross section along E-E of Figure 4.
[Figure 12] Figure 12 is a perspective view of an inner housing.
[Figure 13] Figure 13 is a perspective view of an outer housing.
[Figure 14] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the outer housing in which the inner housing is placed.
[Figure 15] Figure 15 is a perspective view of the electric wire cover.

Description of Embodiments

[Description of Embodiment of Present Disclosure]

Aspects of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be first listed and described.

[1] A connector of the present disclosure includes: an outer housing; at least one inner housing to be inserted into the outer housing from one side in a first direction; and an electric wire cover that accommodates an electric wire led from the inner housing. The electric wire cover is mounted to the outer housing on the one side in the first direction, and the electric wire cover includes a contact portion that contacts the inner housing from the one side in the first direction.

According to this configuration, in a half-inserted state of the inner housing with respect to the outer housing, the inner housing will be pressed into the outer housing by means of the contact portion when the electric wire cover is mounted to the outer housing. Thus, the half-insertion of the inner housing with respect to the outer housing can be prevented.
[2] Preferably, in the above [1], one of the electric wire cover and the outer housing includes a first wall portion and a protrusion that projects from the first wall portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The other one of the electric wire cover and the outer housing includes a second wall portion having a portion facing the first wall portion in the second direction and a protrusion receiving portion that is recessed from the second wall portion in the second direction. The protrusion receiving portion extends in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction and receives the protrusion.
According to this configuration, by allowing the protrusion and the protrusion receiving portion to come in sliding contact with each other, the electric wire cover can be mounted to the outer housing.
[3] Preferably, in the above [1] or [2], the contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion that projects from the first contact portion to another side in the first direction.
According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce a clearance between the electric wire cover and the inner housing and to prevent looseness of the inner housing.
[4] Preferably, in the above [2], the contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion that projects from the first contact portion to another side in the first direction. The second contact portion extends in the third direction, and the second contact portion includes an inclined portion at an end portion on one side in the third direction. The inclined portion has a dimension of projection from the first contact portion that increases toward another side in the third direction.
According to this configuration, by allowing the electric wire cover to slide toward the one side in the third direction, it is possible to smoothly fill the clearance between the electric wire cover and the inner housing.
[5] Preferably, in any one of the above [1] to [4], the inner housing includes a contact surface that contacts the contact portion and a facing surface disposed to face the electric wire cover in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The contact surface and the facing surface are disposed to be continuous with each other.
According to this configuration, the facing surface allows the electric wire cover to be positioned in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
[6] In the connector according to any one of the above [1] to [5], the inner housing may include a plurality of inner housings.

[Details of Embodiment of the Present Disclosure]

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter. The present disclosure is not limited to these illustrations but is represented by claims, and is intended to include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and the scope of equivalents. For the convenience of description, some portions of the configuration may be emphasized or simplified in each drawing. In addition, the dimensional ratio of each portion may differ in each drawing. The term "orthogonal" in the present description includes not only being exactly orthogonal but also substantially orthogonal within the range in which functions and effects of the present embodiment are achieved.
Note that the term "tubular" used in the present description includes not only a shape in which a circumferential wall is continuously formed on the entire circumference, but also a tubular shape formed by combining multiple parts and a shape partially including a cutout in the circumferential direction such as a C shape. Examples of the "tubular" shape include a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and a polygonal shape including sharp or rounded corners.
In addition, "(to) face" in the present description means that surfaces or members are located right in front of each other, and refers to not only cases in which the entirety of the surfaces or members are located right in front of each other, but also cases in which portions of the surfaces or members are located right in front of each other. In addition, "(to) face" in the present description means both a case in which a member different from two portions is interposed between the two portions and a case in which nothing is interposed between the two portions.

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 15. In the following description, a direction indicated by an arrow Z is referred to as an upward direction, a direction indicated by an arrow X is referred to as a forward direction and a direction indicated by an arrow Y is referred to as a leftward direction. Note that, for a plurality of identical members, only some members may be denoted by a reference sign and the other members may not be denoted by the reference sign.

(Connector 10)

As illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a connector 10 includes a plurality of inner housings 20, an outer housing 30, and an electric wire cover 40. The connector 10 is configured to connect to a mating connector that is not illustrated.
The connector 10 of the present embodiment is a lever connector. As illustrated in Figure 1, the connector 10 includes a lever 11 and a gear 12 that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the lever 11. Although description will not be given in detail, the lever 11 and the gear 12 are rotatably supported by the outer housing 30. A pinion is formed for each of the lever 11 and the gear 12. Engagement of the pinion with a rack formed on the mating connector assists connection and separation between the connector 10 and the mating connector.

(Inner Housing 20)

The inner housing 20 is made of an insulative synthetic resin. As illustrated in Figure 12, the inner housing 20 includes a body portion 21 and a flange portion 22. The body portion 21 is substantially a rectangular parallelepiped. The body portion 21 includes a plurality of terminal accommodating portions 21A. The terminal accommodating portions 21A are opened in the up-down direction. As illustrated in Figure 6, a terminal 13 is accommodated inside of the terminal accommodating portion 21A. The terminal 13 to which an electric wire 14 is connected in advance is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 21A from above. The electric wire 14 is led upward from the terminal accommodating portion 21A. An upper surface of the body portion 21 is an electric wire leading surface 21B. The number of terminal accommodating portions 21A and the shape of the terminal accommodating portion 21A, the arrangement in the body portion 21 and the like may be different or the same among the plurality of inner housings 20. Note that the drawing illustrates only a part of the terminal 13 and the electric wire 14.
As illustrated in Figure 12, the flange portion 22 expands in diameter in a direction orthogonal to the up-down direction from the body portion 21. The flange portion 22 is disposed at a location closer to an upper end portion of the body portion 21. An upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22 is disposed below the electric wire leading surface 21B. The upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22 and the electric wire leading surface 21B are connected stepwise via an outer peripheral surface 21C of the body portion 21 extending in the up-down direction. The flange portion 22 includes a lock receiving portion 23 that is recessed downward from the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22.

(Outer Housing 30)

The outer housing 30 is made of an insulative synthetic resin. As illustrated in Figure 13, the outer housing 30 includes a plurality of inner accommodating portions 31 and a cover retaining wall 32 (an example of a second wall portion). The inner accommodating portion 31 has a tubular shape that is opened in the up-down direction. The plurality of inner accommodating portions 31 is aligned in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The inner accommodating portion 31 includes a circumferential wall 31A, a lock piece 31B formed by cutting out the circumferential wall 31A, and a locking protrusion 31C that projects inward of the inner accommodating portion 31 from the circumferential wall 31A. A lower end of the lock piece 31B is a base end connected to the circumferential wall 31A. The lock piece 31B is configured to be deflectable and deformable in the left-right direction. An upper end portion of the lock piece 31B includes a lock projection 31B1 that projects inward of the inner accommodating portion 31 from the lock piece 31B. The locking protrusion 31C is disposed at a location closer to a lower end portion of the circumferential wall 31A.
As illustrated in Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 6, and Figure 14, the inner housing 20 is accommodated inside of the inner accommodating portion 31. The inner housing 20 is inserted into the inner accommodating portion 31 from above (an example of one side in the first direction). Upon engagement with the flange portion 22, the lock piece 31B deflects and deforms outward of the inner accommodating portion 31. While the inner housing 20 is accommodated in the inner accommodating portion 31 in a normal position, as illustrated in Figure 3, the lock piece 31B returns to a natural state, and the lock receiving portion 23 and the lock projection 31B1 are locked. As illustrated in Figure 4, a lower surface 22B of the flange portion 22 contacts the locking protrusion 31C. As a result, the inner housing 20 is retained in the inner accommodating portion 31.

(Protrusion Receiving Portion 33)

As illustrated in Figure 13, the cover retaining wall 32 is disposed on each of the right and left sides of the plurality of inner accommodating portions 31. The cover retaining wall 32 is provided in continuous with the plurality of inner accommodating portions 31, and has a portion extending upward of the plurality of inner accommodating portions 31. A plurality of protrusion receiving portions 33 is disposed at locations closer to an upper end portion of the cover retaining wall 32. As illustrated in Figure 4, the protrusion receiving portion 33 is recessed in the left-right direction (an example of a second direction) from the cover retaining wall 32. Specifically, the protrusion receiving portion 33 is recessed outward of the outer housing 30 in the left-right direction from the cover retaining wall 32. The protrusion receiving portion 33 has a shape of a groove extending in the front-rear direction (an example of a third direction). The protrusion receiving portion 33 includes a first side surface 33A, a second side surface 33B disposed below the first side surface 33A, and a bottom surface 33C connecting the first side surface 33A and the second side surface 33B.
As illustrated in Figure 8 and Figure 9, the second side surface 33B includes a portion that does not overlap with the first side surface 33A in the up-down direction. The plurality of protrusion receiving portions 33 is spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. A communication space 34 that communicates with an internal space of the protrusion receiving portion 33 is formed on the rear side of the protrusion receiving portion 33. The communication space 34 is opened upward.
As illustrated in Figure 13, the outer housing 30 includes an entrance recess 35 and a cover lock receiving portion 36 that are recessed on an outer surface of the cover retaining wall 32 opposite to the protrusion receiving portion 33. The entrance recess 35 and the cover lock receiving portion 36 are disposed at locations closer to a front end portion of the outer housing 30. The cover lock receiving portion 36 is disposed forward of the entrance recess 35.

(Electric Wire Cover 40)

The electric wire cover 40 is made of an insulative synthetic resin. As illustrated in Figure 1, the electric wire cover 40 is mounted to an upper end portion of the outer housing 30. As illustrated in Figure 6, the electric wire cover 40 covers the electric wire leading surface 21B from above, and protects the electric wire 14 that is led from the electric wire leading surface 21B. The electric wire 14 is led to the outside of the connector 10 from an opening 15 formed by the electric wire cover 40 and the outer housing 30. The opening 15 is opened on the front side.
As illustrated in Figure 15, the electric wire cover 40 includes a main wall 41 and two side walls 42 (an example of a first wall portion) extending from the main wall 41. The main wall 41 has a generally shallow U groove shape. In side view, the main wall 41 has a slightly curved shape while bulging upward. The two side walls 42 each extend from two side edges of the main wall 41 and are disposed to face each other. As illustrated in Figure 6, the rear end of the main wall 41 matches the rear end of the side wall 42. The front end of the main wall 41 is disposed backward of the front end of the side wall 42 and at a position closer to the front end of the side wall 42.

(Protrusion 43)

As illustrated in Figure 15, the electric wire cover 40 includes a protrusion 43 that projects from the side wall 42 in the left-right direction. Specifically, the protrusion 43 projects outward (opposite to the main wall 41 in the left-right direction) of the electric wire cover 40 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 43 extends from a lower end portion of the side wall 42. The protrusion 43 extends in the front-rear direction. As illustrated in Figure 4, the protrusion 43 is disposed inside of the protrusion receiving portion 33, and is in contact with the first side surface 33A, the second side surface 33B, and the bottom surface 33C. As a result, the electric wire cover 40 is positioned with respect to the outer housing 30 in the up-down direction and the left-right direction.
As illustrated in Figure 15, the electric wire cover 40 includes a lock protection wall 44 extending from the side wall 42 and a cover lock piece 45 formed between the lock protection wall 44 and the side wall 42. The lock protection wall 44 extends outward of the electric wire cover 40 in the left-right direction and downward of the electric wire cover 40. The cover lock piece 45 is deflectable and deformable in the left-right direction. The cover lock piece 45 extends in the front-rear direction. A lower end of the cover lock piece 45 is a base end connected to the lock protection wall 44. A front end portion of the cover lock piece 45 includes a cover lock projection 45A that projects inward of the electric wire cover 40 from the cover lock piece 45. As illustrated in Figure 5, the cover lock projection 45A locks into the cover lock receiving portion 36. As a result, the electric wire cover 40 is positioned with respect to the outer housing 30 in the front-rear direction.

(Contact Portion 46)

As illustrated in Figure 15, the electric wire cover 40 includes a contact portion 46 at the lower end portion of the side wall 42. As illustrated in Figure 4, the contact portion 46 contacts the upper surface 22A (an example of a contact surface) of the flange portion 22 from above. Thus, in a half-inserted state where the inner housing 20 is located higher than the normal position with respect to the outer housing 30, mounting the electric wire cover 40 to the upper end portion of the outer housing 30 causes the contact portion 46 to contact the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22. As a result, the inner housing 20 is pressed downward against the outer housing 30 and the inner housing 20 is placed into the normal position. Therefore, in the connector 10, it is possible to prevent the inner housing 20 from being placed in the half-inserted state with respect to the outer housing 30.
The surface inside of the electric wire cover 40 at the lower end portion of the side wall 42 faces the outer peripheral surface 21C (an example of a facing surface) of the body portion 21 in the left-right direction. As a result, when assembling the electric wire cover 40 with the outer housing 30, the electric wire cover 40 can be positioned in the left-right direction.

(First Contact Portion 46A, Second Contact Portion 46B)

As illustrated in Figure 7 and Figure 11, the contact portion 46 includes a first contact portion 46A and a second contact portion 46B that projects downward (an example of another side in the first direction) from the first contact portion 46A. The dimension of projection of the second contact portion 46B from the first contact portion 46A is set in consideration of the size of a clearance in the up-down direction that may be formed between the electric wire cover 40 and the inner housing 20. That is, the second contact portion 46B is formed such that this clearance is filled with the second contact portion 46B. With the second contact portion 46B, it is possible to prevent looseness of the inner housing 20 with respect to the outer housing 30.

(Inclined Portion 46B1)

The second contact portion 46B of the present embodiment extends in the front-rear direction, and a front end portion (as example of an end portion on one side in the third direction) of the second contact portion 46B includes an inclined portion 46B1. The inclined portion 46B1 has a dimension of projection from the first contact portion 46A that increases toward the rear side (an example of another side in the third direction).

(Assembling Connector 10)

Hereinafter, an example of a method of assembling the connector 10 will be described. First, the terminal 13 to which the electric wire 14 is connected is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 21A of the inner housing 20.
The inner housing 20 is inserted into the inner accommodating portion 31 of the outer housing 30 from above. When the inner housing 20 is placed in the normal position in the outer housing 30, the lock receiving portion 23 and the lock projection 31B1 are locked, and the lower surface 22B of the flange portion 22 contacts the locking protrusion 31C.
The lever 11 and the gear 12 are assembled with the outer housing 30 (see Figure 14).
Finally, the step of mounting the electric wire cover 40 to the upper end portion of the outer housing 30 is performed. First, in a state where the protrusion 43 is located above the communication space 34, the electric wire cover 40 is moved down toward the outer housing 30 such that the electric wire cover 40 is placed in a first position with respect to the outer housing 30 (see Figure 9). When the electric wire cover 40 is in the first position, the protrusion 43 is located in the communication space 34 and contacts the second side surface 33B of the protrusion receiving portion 33. As illustrated in Figure 10, the cover lock projection 45A is located inside of the entrance recess 35. In addition, as illustrated in Figure 11, the first contact portion 46A faces or contacts the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22 in the up-down direction, and the second contact portion 46B is located inside of the lock receiving portion 23.
If the inner housing 20 is in the half-inserted state with respect to the outer housing 30, in the course of moving the electric wire cover 40 into the first position, the first contact portion 46A contacts the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22. As a result, the half-insertion of the inner housing 20 can be detected. In addition, by moving the electric wire cover 40 to the first position while the first contact portion 46A contacts the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22, the inner housing 20 is pressed into the normal position in the outer housing 30 by means of the electric wire cover 40.
Next, the electric wire cover 40 is allowed to slide forward from the first position. As a result, the protrusion 43 enters the inside of the protrusion receiving portion 33 and comes in sliding contact with the first side surface 33A, the second side surface 33B, and the bottom surface 33C (see Figure 4 and Figure 8). The protrusion 43 coming in sliding contact with the protrusion receiving portion 33 allows the electric wire cover 40 to easily slide forward.
When the electric wire cover 40 moves forward, the cover lock projection 45A is detached from the entrance recess 35 and is engaged with the cover retaining wall 32. As a result, the cover lock piece 45 deflects and deforms outward of the electric wire cover 40. When the electric wire cover 40 further moves forward and is placed in a second position with respect to the outer housing 30, the cover lock projection 45A is located inside of the cover lock receiving portion 36 (see Figure 5). In this state, the cover lock piece 45 has returned to the natural state and the cover lock projection 45A and the cover lock receiving portion 36 are locked. Through the above process, mounting the electric wire cover 40 to the outer housing 30 is completed.
When the electric wire cover 40 moves forward from the first position, the second contact portion 46B moves outside of the lock receiving portion 23 and comes in sliding contact with the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22. As the front end portion of the second contact portion 46B is provided with the inclined portion 46B1, when the electric wire cover 40 is moved forward from the first position, it is possible to prevent the second contact portion 46B from being snagged on the step portion between the lock receiving portion 23 and the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22. Therefore, the electric wire cover 40 can be moved smoothly from the first position to the second position. In a state where the electric wire cover 40 is located in the second position, the second contact portion 46B contacts the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22 (see Figure 7). As a result, it is possible to fill the clearance between the inner housing 20 and the electric wire cover 40 in the up-down direction and to prevent looseness of the inner housing 20.

(Functions and Effects of Embodiment)

(1-1) The connector 10 according to the embodiment includes: an outer housing 30; at least one inner housing 20 to be inserted into the outer housing 30 from one side (above) in a first direction; and an electric wire cover 40 that accommodates an electric wire 14 led from the inner housing 20. The electric wire cover 40 is mounted to the outer housing 30 on the one side in the first direction, and the electric wire cover 40 includes a contact portion 46 that contacts the inner housing 20 from the one side in the first direction.
According to this configuration, in a half-inserted state of the inner housing 20 with respect to the outer housing 30, the inner housing 20 will be pressed into the outer housing 30 by means of the contact portion 46 when the electric wire cover 40 is mounted to the outer housing 30. Thus, the half-insertion of the inner housing 20 with respect to the outer housing 30 can be prevented.
(1-2) In the embodiment, the electric wire cover 40 includes a first wall portion (side wall 42) and a protrusion 43 that projects from the first wall portion in a second direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the first direction. The outer housing 30 includes a second wall portion (cover retaining wall 32) having a portion facing the first wall portion in the second direction and a protrusion receiving portion 33 that is recessed from the second wall portion in the second direction. The protrusion receiving portion 33 extends in a third direction (front-rear direction) orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction and receives the protrusion 43.
According to this configuration, by allowing the protrusion 43 and the protrusion receiving portion 33 to come in sliding contact with each other, the electric wire cover 40 can be mounted to the outer housing 30.
(1-3) In the embodiment, the contact portion 46 includes a first contact portion 46A and a second contact portion 46B that projects from the first contact portion 46A toward another side (downward) in the first direction.
According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce a clearance between the electric wire cover 40 and the inner housing 20 and to prevent looseness of the inner housing 20.
(1-4) In the embodiment, the second contact portion 46B extends in the third direction, and the second contact portion 46B includes an inclined portion 46B1 at an end portion (front end portion) on one side in the third direction. The inclined portion 46B1 has a dimension of projection from the first contact portion 46A that increases toward another side (rear side) in the third direction.
According to this configuration, by allowing the electric wire cover 40 to slide toward the one side in the third direction, it is possible to smoothly fill the clearance between the electric wire cover 40 and the inner housing 20.
(1-5) In the embodiment, the inner housing 20 includes a contact surface (the upper surface 22A of the flange portion 22) that contacts the contact portion 46 and a facing surface (the outer peripheral surface 21C of the body portion 21) disposed to face the electric wire cover 40 in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the first direction. The contact surface and the facing surface are disposed to be continuous with each other.
According to this configuration, the facing surface allows the electric wire cover 40 to be positioned in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
(1-6) The connector 10 according to the embodiment includes a plurality of inner housings 20.

(Other Embodiments)

The above-described embodiment may be implemented with the following modifications. The above-described embodiment and the following modifications may be implemented in combination with each other as long as no technical inconsistencies arise.

Although the connector 10 is a lever connector in the above-described embodiment, the connector need not be the lever connector.
In the above-described embodiment, although the electric wire cover 40 includes the protrusion 43 and the outer housing 30 includes the protrusion receiving portion 33 that receives the protrusion 43, the protrusion may be provided in the outer housing, and the protrusion receiving portion may be provided in the electric wire cover.
In the above-described embodiment, although the protrusion 43 and the protrusion receiving portion 33 are configured to come in sliding contact with each other when the electric wire cover 40 is mounted to the outer housing 30, the electric wire cover and the outer housing need not have such a sliding contact structure, and they only need be configured to be able to be locked with each other.

Reference Signs List

10: connector
11: lever
12: gear
13: terminal
14: electric wire
15: opening
20: inner housing
21: body portion
21A: terminal accommodating portion
21B: electric wire leading surface
21C: outer peripheral surface (facing surface)
22: flange portion
22A: upper surface (contact surface)
22B: lower surface
23: lock receiving portion
30: outer housing
31: inner accommodating portion
31A: circumferential wall
31B: lock piece
31B1: lock projection
31C: locking protrusion
32: cover retaining wall (second wall portion)
33: protrusion receiving portion
33A: first side surface
33B: second side surface
33C: bottom surface
34: communication space
35: entrance recess
36: cover lock receiving portion
40: electric wire cover
41: main wall
42: side wall (first wall portion)
43: protrusion
44: lock protection wall
45: cover lock piece
45A: cover lock projection
46: contact portion
46A: first contact portion
46B: second contact portion
46B1: inclined portion

Claims

A connector comprising:
an outer housing;

at least one inner housing to be inserted into the outer housing from one side in a first direction; and

an electric wire cover that accommodates an electric wire led from the inner housing,

wherein the electric wire cover is mounted to the outer housing on the one side in the first direction, and

wherein the electric wire cover includes a contact portion that contacts the inner housing from the one side in the first direction.
The connector according to claim 1,
wherein one of the electric wire cover and the outer housing includes a first wall portion and a protrusion that projects from the first wall portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

wherein the other one of the electric wire cover and the outer housing includes a second wall portion having a portion facing the first wall portion in the second direction and a protrusion receiving portion that is recessed from the second wall portion in the second direction, and

wherein the protrusion receiving portion extends in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction and receives the protrusion.
The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion that projects from the first contact portion to another side in the first direction.
The connector according to claim 2,
wherein the contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion that projects from the first contact portion to another side in the first direction,

wherein the second contact portion extends in the third direction,

wherein the second contact portion includes an inclined portion at an end portion on one side in the third direction, and

wherein the inclined portion has a dimension of projection from the first contact portion that increases toward another side in the third direction.
The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein the inner housing includes a contact surface that contacts the contact portion and a facing surface disposed to face the electric wire cover in a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and

wherein the contact surface and the facing surface are disposed to be continuous with each other.
The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a plurality of inner housings.