JP2008130322A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector having a lever fitted with a detection member allowing fitting work of the connector to be executed with further excellent operability. <P>SOLUTION: The connector 1 includes: a pair of connectors 2 and 3; the lever 4 rotatably attached to the one-side connector 2; and the detection member 5 attached to the lever 4 movably over an initial position and a detection position. The lever 4 includes a displacement restriction means fitting the pair of connectors 2 and 3 to each other by rotating in a direction approaching the connector 3, and restricting displacement of the detection member 5 from the initial position to the detection position until the pair of connectors 2 and 3 are correctly fitted to each other. Either of the pair of connectors 2 and 3 includes a restriction termination means terminating the restriction of the displacement restriction means when the pair of connectors 2 and 3 are correctly fitted to each other. The pair of connectors 2 and 3 are correctly fitted to each other by moving the detection member 5 in a direction approaching the other-side connector 3 to rotate the lever. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector including a pair of connectors that are fitted to each other, a lever that is rotatably attached to one connector, and a detection member that is attached to the lever and can detect the fitting of the pair of connectors.

  Conventionally, a lever-type connector has been used to easily engage the connector. Such a connector includes a pair of connectors and a lever rotatably attached to one connector. The lever rotates to fit the connectors together.

  The fitting between a pair of connectors using a lever requires an operating force for the rotation operation of the lever. For this reason, there is a case where the work is finished in a state where the connectors are half-fitted without rotating the lever to the correct fitting state. Further, in the half-fitted state, there is a possibility that an arc is generated between the terminals when energized.

  For this reason, the fitting state between the connectors has been confirmed by electrical detection means (see, for example, cited document 1). The detecting means is provided with a contact terminal that can be contacted only when the connectors are properly fitted to each other in the lever and the housing of the other connector, respectively, and a lead wire connected to the contact terminal is led to the outside of the connector to detect the detection circuit. Connected to. In such a connector, first, the lever is rotated to a proper fitting state to fit the connectors together. Subsequently, it is confirmed whether the fitting is correctly performed by the detecting means. Therefore, the work has to be performed in two stages, which is complicated. In addition, a separate detection means is required, which is expensive.

In order to solve this type of problem, various connectors have been used (for example, see Patent Document 2). This type of connector includes a detection member on a lever. The detection member is locked at the initial position until the connectors are properly fitted, and the displacement is restricted. When the connectors are correctly fitted, the displacement restriction is released, and the detection member is displaced to the detection position. Therefore, by moving the detection member in the direction opposite to the fitting direction of the connector, the fitting of the connectors by the rotation of the lever and the confirmation of the fitting by the displacement of the detection member can be performed in a series of operations. It was.
JP-A-9-167657 Japanese Patent No. 3419715

  The connector described in Patent Document 2 described above is a series of operations in which the detection member is operated to fit the connectors by rotation of the lever and to confirm the fitting of the connectors by the displacement of the detection member. Could be done. However, since the detection member moving direction, that is, the rotation direction of the lever is opposite to the fitting direction of the connector, the operability is poor.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can perform a connector fitting operation with good operability in a connector including a lever to which a detection member is attached.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a connector according to the present invention according to claim 1 is a pair of connectors that can be fitted to each other, and is rotatably attached to one connector. A lever that assists in fitting between the connectors and engages with the other connector to hold the fitting, and the lever spans an initial position and a detection position closer to the other connector than the initial position. And the detection member attached to be movable, the lever rotates in a direction approaching the other connector to fit the pair of connectors together, and the pair of connectors is correctly connected. Displacement restricting means for restricting the displacement of the detection member from the initial position to the detection position until it is fitted is provided. Connectors is characterized by including a restriction releasing means for releasing the restriction of the displacement of the detective member of the displacement regulating means to fit.

  The connector according to a second aspect of the present invention is the connector according to the first aspect, wherein the lever includes an engaging portion that engages with the other connector, and the displacement restricting means is separate from the engaging portion. It is characterized by its body.

  The connector according to a third aspect of the present invention is the connector according to the first or second aspect, wherein the lever is provided with a notch that exposes the operation portion of the detection member positioned at the detection position. It is characterized by that.

  A connector according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the connector according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the detection member is attached at a position away from the rotation center of the lever. A rotation direction in which the pair of connectors of the lever are fitted to each other coincides with a moving direction of the detection member from the initial position to the detection position, and the operation portion serves as an operation portion of the lever. It is said.

  A connector according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the lever includes a lock release portion that releases the engagement with the other connector. And the operation portion of the detection member positioned at the detection position covers the lock release portion.

  A connector according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the connector according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the lock release portion is displaced in a direction to release the engagement with the other connector. It is characterized by having a displacement restricting portion for restricting the operation.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 1, the lever rotates in a direction approaching the other connector so that the pair of connectors are fitted to each other, and the detection position is on the other side than the initial position of the detection member. It is close to the connector. For this reason, the fitting direction of the connector, the rotation direction of the lever, and the moving direction of the detection member should be the same, and the fitting of the connector and the confirmation of the fitting should be performed efficiently with a series of operations. Can do.

  Furthermore, by making the width of the lever and the width of the detection member substantially equal, the force applied to the detection member is distributed and transmitted to the lever, and the lever can be rotated by moving the detection member.

  Note that the lever width and the detection member width are substantially equal to each other means that the lever width and the detection member width are equal to the extent that the lever can be rotated by moving the detection member. is doing. Therefore, there may be a difference between the width of the lever and the width of the detection member.

  Further, the contact surface between the displacement regulating means and the detection member is orthogonal to the displacement direction of the detection member, so that the contact surface between the lever and the detection member does not come off, and the lever can be stably moved by moving the detection member. Can be rotated.

  According to the connector of the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the lever is provided with an engaging portion which is separate from the displacement restricting means and engages with the other connector. For this reason, even if the displacement restricting means is damaged by the detection member, the engaging portion is not damaged.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 3, the lever is provided with the notch for exposing the main body portion of the detection member positioned at the detection position. For this reason, when moving the detection member of a detection position to an initial position, a detection member can be moved by touching the main-body part of a detection member.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 4, the operation portion of the detection member becomes the operation portion of the lever. For this reason, the fitting of the connector and the confirmation of the fitting can be efficiently performed with a series of operations.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 5, the operation portion of the detection member covers the unlocking portion of the lever. For this reason, the engaging part of a lever and the other connector is protected, and the said engagement is hold | maintained more stably.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 6, the displacement restricting portion for restricting the lock releasing portion from being displaced in the direction of releasing the engagement is provided. For this reason, the lock release portion does not move in the direction of releasing the engagement, and the engagement between the lever and the other connector is held more stably.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the lever rotates in a direction approaching the other connector so that the pair of connectors are fitted to each other, and the detection position is more than the initial position of the detection member. Is closer to the other connector. For this reason, the fitting direction of the connector, the rotation direction of the lever, and the moving direction of the detection member should be the same, and the fitting of the connector and the confirmation of the fitting should be performed efficiently with a series of operations. Can do. Therefore, the connector can be fitted with good operability.

  When the width of the lever and the width of the detection member are substantially equal, the force applied to the detection member is distributed and transmitted to the lever, and the lever can be rotated by moving the detection member. Therefore, the connector can be fitted more efficiently.

  Further, the contact surface between the displacement regulating means and the detection member is orthogonal to the displacement direction of the detection member, so that the contact surface between the lever and the detection member does not come off, and the lever can be stably moved by moving the detection member. Can be rotated. Therefore, the connector can be fitted more efficiently.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the lever includes an engaging portion that is separate from the displacement restricting means and engages with the other connector. For this reason, even if a detection member is pushed in forcefully, an engaging part is not damaged. Therefore, the fitting operation itself can be continued without affecting the fitting operation itself of the connector. Further, since the detection member is structurally more easily damaged than the displacement regulating means, only the detection member needs to be replaced and it is easy to deal with it.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, the lever is provided with a notch that exposes the main body of the detection member positioned at the detection position. For this reason, when moving the detection member of a detection position to an initial position, a detection member can be moved by touching the operation part of a detection member. Therefore, the operation of removing the fitted connector can be performed with good operability without using a jig or the like.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation portion of the detection member is the operation portion of the lever. For this reason, the fitting of the connector and the confirmation of the fitting can be efficiently performed with a series of operations. Therefore, the connector can be fitted with good operability.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the operation portion of the detection member covers the unlocking portion of the lever. For this reason, the engaging part of a lever and the other connector is protected, and the said engagement is hold | maintained more stably. Therefore, the fitting of the connector can be held more stably.

  The present invention according to claim 6 includes a displacement restricting portion that restricts the lock releasing portion from being displaced in the direction of releasing the engagement. For this reason, the lock release portion does not move in the direction of releasing the engagement, and the engagement between the lever and the other connector is held more stably. Therefore, the fitting of the connector can be held more stably.

  Hereinafter, a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of connectors 2 and 3 that can be fitted to each other, a lever 4, and a detection member 5. In the present embodiment, one connector 2 of the pair of connectors 2 and 3 is a male connector (hereinafter referred to as a male connector 2) 2 and the other connector 3 is a female connector (hereinafter referred to as a connector). 3) (referred to as female connector 3).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the male connector 2 includes a connector housing 6 and an electric wire cover 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the connector housing 6 includes a main body portion 8 formed in a cylindrical shape on the inner side, and an outer hood portion 9. The main body 8 is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 10 for accommodating terminal fittings.

  The hood portion 9 is provided with an opening portion 11 that is closed by first and second connecting portions 24 and 25 (to be described later) of the lever 4 when the pair of connectors 2 and 3 are properly fitted to each other. The hood portion 9 is provided with a shaft protrusion 12, a guide protrusion 13, a restriction release part 14 as a restriction release means, and a boss receiving part 55.

  The shaft projecting portion 12 is provided at a position overlapping a pair of arm portions 23 described later of the lever 4 of the hood portion 9, and is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of the hood portion 9. The shaft protrusion 12 is accommodated in a bearing portion 27 (described later) of the lever 4.

  The guide protrusion 13 is provided at a position overlapping a pair of arm portions 23 (described later) of the lever 4 of the hood portion 9, and is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of the hood portion 9. The guide protrusion 13 is arranged at a distance from the shaft protrusion 12 along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the pair of connectors 2 and 3 are fitted together. The guide protrusion 13 is accommodated in a guide receiving portion 28 described later of the lever 4.

  A pair of restriction release portions 14 is provided at the edge of the opening 11. The pair of restriction release portions 14 are formed so as to protrude from the hood portion 9. The pair of restriction release portions 14 are provided at intervals from each other along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the pair of connectors 2 and 3 are fitted to each other, and the opening 11 is positioned therebetween. Each of the pair of restriction release portions 14 is provided so as to protrude in a direction away from the female connector 3 to be fitted, and the protruding end portion is provided inside the connector housing 6 as the distance from the female connector 3 to be fitted increases. A release surface 15 having a taper inclined toward is provided.

  The boss receiving portion 55 is provided at a position overlapping a pair of arm portions 23 described later of the lever 4 of the hood portion 9, and is provided through the hood portion 9. The boss receiving portion 55 is provided at a position farther from the restriction release portion 14 than the shaft projecting portion 12. The boss receiving part 55 accommodates the boss | hub 54 which the lever 4 mentions later so that a movement is possible.

  The electric wire cover 7 includes a pair of cover members 16. The pair of cover members 16 have a U-shaped cross section. The pair of cover members 16 are attached to the connector housing 6 in such a manner that the end portions from which the electric wires of the connector housing 6 are led out are sandwiched between each other. A pair of cover member 16 accommodates the electric wire by which the terminal metal fitting was attached to the terminal, and protects an electric wire.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the female connector 3 includes a connector housing 17 and an electric wire cover 18. The connector housing 17 is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 20 for accommodating terminal fittings therein. The connector housing 17 includes a lock portion 21, a boss receiving protrusion 52, and a boss receiving protrusion 53.

  The lock portion 21 is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of the connector housing 17. The lock part 21 is accommodated in the opening part 11 of the male connector 2 and engages with a lock receiving part 38 (to be described later) of the lever 4. The lock portion 21 is provided with a tapered surface that is inclined in a direction approaching the connector housing 17 as it approaches the male connector 2 at an end portion close to the male connector 2 to be fitted.

  A pair of boss receiving protrusions 52 are provided on the side of the connector housing 17 close to the male connector 2 so as to protrude from the outer surface of the connector housing 17. The pair of boss receiving projections 52 are arranged so as to position the connector housing 17 between each other.

  The boss receiving projection 53 is provided on the outer surface of the connector housing 17. The boss receiving projection 53 extends in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are fitted. An end 53 a in the longitudinal direction of the boss receiving protrusion 53 is positioned in the vicinity of the boss receiving protrusion 52. The end portion 53 a is disposed on the side closer to the male connector 2 to be fitted than the boss receiving projection 52. The end 53a and the boss receiving projection 52 are arranged along the direction in which the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are fitted. A boss 54 (described later) of the lever 4 enters between the end 53a and the boss receiving projection 52.

  The electric wire cover 18 includes a pair of cover members 22. The pair of cover members 22 has a U-shaped cross section. The pair of cover members 22 are attached to the connector housing 17 in such a manner that the end portions from which the electric wires of the connector housing 17 are led out are sandwiched between each other. A pair of cover member 22 accommodates the electric wire by which the terminal metal fitting was attached to the terminal, and protects an electric wire.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lever 4 includes a pair of flat arm portions 23, a flat plate-like first connecting portion 24 that connects one end portions of the pair of arm portions 23, and a first connection. A flat plate-like second connecting portion 25 that connects the pair of arm portions 23 in parallel with the first connecting portion 24 at a distance from the first connecting portion 24, and is formed in a substantially U-shape as a whole. . The pair of arm portions 23 are opposed to each other with a space therebetween, and are parallel to each other. Each of the pair of arm portions 23 includes a holding projection 26, a bearing portion 27, a guide receiving portion 28, and a boss 54.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the holding projection 26 is provided so as to protrude from between the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 on the inner surface of the pair of arm portions 23. The holding protrusion 26 engages with a holding piece 44 of the detection member 5 described later, and holds the detection member 5 on the lever 4. The holding protrusion 26 is provided with a tapered surface that is inclined in a direction approaching the pair of arm portions 23 as it approaches the detection member 5 at an end (front side in FIG. 3) facing the detection member 5.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the bearing portion 27 is provided so as to penetrate the side of the pair of arm portions 23 away from the first and second connecting portions 24 and 25. The bearing 27 has an oval shape in plan view. The bearing portion 27 accommodates the shaft protrusion 12. The shaft protrusion 12 accommodated in the bearing portion 27 is movable within the bearing portion 27.

  The guide receiving portion 28 is provided so as to penetrate the side of the pair of arm portions 23 away from the first and second connecting portions 24 and 25. The guide receiving portion 28 is arranged at a distance from the bearing portion 27 along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the pair of connectors 2 and 3 are fitted together. The guide receiving portion 28 is provided closer to the first connecting portion 24 than the bearing portion 27. The guide receiving portion 28 has an oval shape in which the planar shape is longer than that of the bearing portion 27. The guide receiving portion 28 accommodates the guide protrusion 13. The guide protrusion 13 accommodated in the guide receiving portion 28 is movable in the guide receiving portion 28.

  The boss 54 is provided at the end of the pair of arm portions 23 away from the first and second connecting portions 24 and 25. The boss 54 is provided so as to protrude from the mutually opposed surfaces of the pair of arm portions 23. The boss 54 is movably accommodated in the boss receiving portion 55 of the male connector 2 and enters between the boss receiving protrusion 52 of the female connector 3 and the end portion 53 a of the boss receiving protrusion 53.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lever 4 is rotatably attached to the male connector 2 with the shaft projection 12 accommodated in the bearing 27 and the guide projection 13 accommodated in the guide receiver 28. The boss 54 is accommodated in the boss receiving portion 55 of the male connector 2. When the lever 4 is rotated in a direction approaching the female connector 3, the boss 54 moves in the boss receiving portion 55 and enters between the boss receiving projection 52 and the end portion 53a. The outer surface of the end portion 53 a facing the boss receiving projection 52 is inclined in a direction in which the back side (the lower side in FIG. 1) is separated from the boss receiving projection 52. When the boss 54 slides on the inclined outer surface, the lever 4 pulls the female connector 3 into the male connector 2 and causes the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 to be fitted.

  When the lever 4 is rotated in the direction away from the female connector 3, the boss 54 moves in the boss receiving portion 55 and comes out between the boss receiving projection 52 and the end portion 53a. The outer surface (the lower side in FIG. 1) of the boss receiving projection 52 facing the end 53a is inclined in a direction away from the end 53a. When the boss 54 slides on the inclined outer surface, the lever 4 pushes the female connector 3 out of the male connector 2 and separates the male connector 2 and the female connector 3.

  The first connecting portion 24 is provided with a notch 51 on the end surface facing the detection member 5. The notch 51 exposes a lock release portion 39 of the lock arm 34 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the lever 4 further includes a pair of partition portions 31 that connect the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 and are parallel to the pair of arm portions 23. The pair of partition portions 31 are provided at equal intervals from each of the pair of arm portions 23. Each of the pair of partition portions 31 includes a locking portion 32 as a displacement restricting unit.

  The locking portion 32 is disposed so that the opening 11 is positioned between the locking arms 32 (described later) when the locking arms 34 are engaged with the locking portion 21. The locking portion 32 is provided with a pair of partition portions 31 so as to protrude from surfaces facing each other. The locking part 32 is provided with a locking surface 33. The locking surface 33 is provided on the side of the locking portion 32 facing the detection member 5 and is formed flat in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the detection member 5 moves. The locking surface 33 is a contact surface that is opposed to and comes into contact with a later-described pressing surface 48 of the detection member 5.

  The lever 4 also includes a lock arm 34 that engages with the female connector 3 as an engaging portion. As shown in FIG. 3, the lock arm 34 includes a pair of small arm portions 35 extending from the surface of the second connecting portion 25 facing the first connecting portion 24 toward the female connector 3, and a pair of small arms. A bridging portion 36 that couples the free ends of the portion 35 and a U-shaped connecting portion 37 that is coupled to both ends of the bridging portion 36 are provided. The pair of small arm portions 35 protrude from the second connecting portion 25 in a direction approaching the female connector 3 and are provided in parallel with the second connecting portion 25. The bridging portion 36 includes a lock receiving portion 38.

  The lock receiving portion 38 engages with the lock portion 21 of the female connector 3. By engaging the lock receiving portion 38 and the lock portion 21, the lever 4 and the female connector 3 are engaged and the lever 4 is held so as not to rotate, so that the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are fitted. Retained.

  The connecting portion 37 is provided with a lock releasing portion 39 at the free end portion on the side away from the female connector 3. By depressing the lock release portion 39, the engagement between the lock portion 21 and the lock receiving portion 38 is released.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the detection member 5 includes a main body portion 40, a pair of holding arm portions 41, a pair of detection arm portions 42, and a displacement restriction portion 56. As shown in FIG. 10, the main body portion 40 includes an upper wall 49a, a bottom wall 49b, and a connecting wall 50 that connects one end portions of the upper wall 49a and the bottom wall 49b. Is formed. The upper wall 49a includes an operation unit 43 that is gently recessed from the outer surface.

  The main body 40 has a length in the width direction substantially equal to the distance between the pair of arm portions 23 of the lever 4. In the present embodiment, the width of the main body portion 40, that is, the width of the detection member 5, and the distance between the pair of arm portions 23, that is, the width of the lever 4 are substantially equal to each other, and by operating the operation portion 43 of the detection member 5 4 can be rotated. However, in the present invention, there may be a difference between the width of the lever 4 and the width of the detection member 5. The width of the lever 4 and the width of the detection member 5 are substantially equal to each other to the extent that the lever 4 can be rotated by operating the operation portion 43 of the detection member 5. This means that the width is equal. The operation unit 43 also serves as the operation unit of the lever 3.

  The pair of holding arm portions 41 protrude from both ends of the main body portion 40 and are provided in parallel to each other. Each of the pair of holding arm portions 41 includes a holding piece 44 that protrudes in a direction away from the connector housing 6 at the distal end portion. The holding piece 44 engages with the holding protrusion 26 of the lever 4 and holds the detection member 5 on the lever 4.

  The pair of detection arm portions 42 are provided in parallel to each other in the same direction as the pair of holding arm portions 41 from the end of the upper wall 49 a so as to be sandwiched between the pair of holding arm portions 41. The pair of detection arm portions 42 is provided in parallel with the pair of holding arm portions 41. Each of the pair of detection arm portions 42 includes a pressing piece 45.

  The pressing piece 45 is provided at the distal end portion of the pair of detection arm portions 42. The pressing piece 45 protrudes in the direction approaching the connector housing 6 while the pressing portion 46 provided at the tip of the pair of detection arm portions 42 and the pair of detection arm portions 42 protrude from the pressing portion 46 toward each other. And a restriction release protrusion 47.

  The pressing piece 45 is provided with a pressing surface 48 at the distal end portion on the side close to the female connector 3 across the pressing portion 46 and the regulation release protrusion 47. The pressing surface 48 is formed flat in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the detection member 5 moves. When the detection member 5 is attached to the lever 4 with the pair of holding arm portions 41 engaged with the holding projections 26 of the lever 4, the pressing surface 48 faces the locking surface 33 of the locking portion 32 of the lever 4, It is a contact surface that comes into contact.

  The restriction release protrusion 47 is provided with a tapered surface that is inclined in a direction approaching the holding arm 41 as it approaches the main body 40 at the end close to the main body 40. When the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are fitted, the restriction release protrusion 47 comes into contact with the release surface 15 of the restriction release portion 14 of the male connector 2 and restricts the displacement of the detection member 5 by the locking portion 32 of the lever 4. To release.

  The displacement restricting portion 56 is provided so as to protrude from the center of the end portion of the bottom wall 49b. When the detection member 5 is positioned at a detection position which will be described later, the unlocking portion 39 of the lock arm 34 of the lever 4 is positioned between the displacement restricting portion 56 and the upper wall 49a. The displacement restricting part 56 restricts the lock releasing part 39 from being pushed down by coming into contact with the lock releasing part 39.

  The detection member 5 having the above-described configuration is attached so that the outer surface of the bottom wall 49 b and the surface of the second connecting portion 25 of the lever 4 facing the first connecting portion 24 are close to each other. The holding projection 26 is engaged. As described above, the holding projection 26 is provided with a tapered surface on the end surface facing the detection member 5 and is easily engaged. The detection member 5 is attached so as to be movable over an initial position and a detection position described later.

  Even if the detection member 5 is pulled away from the lever 4 after the engagement, the end surface on the main body 40 side of the holding piece 44 and the end surface on the female connector 3 side of the holding projection 26 come into contact with each other, and the detection member 5 is detached. There is nothing. Even when the lever 4 is pushed in the direction approaching the lever 4, as shown in FIG. 14, the pressing surface 48 is opposed to the locking surface 33 of the lever 4, and the pressing surface 48 contacts and is locked. Can not move. The position of the detection member 5 at this time is defined as an initial position (FIGS. 2, 4, and 14).

  When the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 of the connector 1 described above are fitted to each other, the fitting surfaces of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are brought close to each other, and the male connector 2 is connected to the connector housing 17 of the female connector 3. 2 main body portions 8 are accommodated. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the lock portion 21 is accommodated in the opening portion 11. Subsequently, when the detection member 5 is pushed in a direction approaching the female connector 3, the detection member 5 is held in the initial position, so that the lever 4 rotates in a direction approaching the female connector 3.

  As the detection member 5 is pushed, the boss 54 of the lever 4 starts to enter between the boss receiving projection 52 of the female connector 3 and the end 53 a of the boss receiving projection 53. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the lock arm 34 of the lever 4 and the lock portion 21 of the female connector 3 come into contact with each other, and the lock arm 34 starts to ride on the tapered surface of the lock portion 21. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the restriction release protrusion 47 of the pressing piece 45 comes into contact with the release surface 15 of the restriction release portion 14 of the female connector 3, and the pair of detection arms is formed by the taper of the release surface 15. The portion 42 bends away from the restriction release portion 14 and is gradually pushed up in the direction away from the hood portion 9. At the same time, the pressing surface 48 of the pressing piece 45 moves away from the hood portion 9, and the contact surface with the locking surface 33 of the lever 4 becomes small.

  When the detection member 5 is further pushed, the lock arm 34 gets over the lock portion 21 and the lock receiving portion 38 of the lock arm 34 and the lock portion 21 are engaged as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the restriction release protrusion 47 is further pushed up by the release surface 15, and the contact surface between the pressing surface 48 and the locking surface 33 is further reduced.

  Then, the boss 54 of the lever 4 pulls in the female connector 3, and the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are fitted as shown in FIG. The opening 11 of the male connector 2 is closed by the first and second connecting portions 24 and 25 of the lever 4. Thereafter, the lever 4 further rotates, the end portion of the first connecting portion 24 of the lever 4 in the direction approaching the female connector 3 and the hood portion 9 of the male connector 2 come into contact, and the rotation of the lever 4 stops. At this time, the restriction release protrusion 47 is further pushed up by the release surface 15 and rides on the locking portion 32, and the pressing surface 48 is released from the locking surface 33. That is, the displacement restriction from the initial position of the detection member 5 by the locking portion 32 is released.

  As described above, after the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are properly fitted, the lever 4 rotates to a position where the end of the first connecting portion 24 and the hood portion 9 of the male connector 2 come into contact with each other. . If the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are not properly fitted, the lever 4 cannot rotate to a position where the end portion of the first connecting portion 24 and the hood portion 9 of the male connector 2 are in contact with each other. In this case, the restriction release protrusion 47 of the detection member 5 cannot sufficiently approach the release surface 15 of the male connector 2 and cannot be sufficiently pushed up by the release surface 15, so that the pressing piece 45 can ride on the locking portion 32. Can not. Therefore, the locking by the locking surface 33 is not released, and the displacement restriction from the initial position of the detection member 5 by the locking portion 32 is not released. As described above, whether or not the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are correctly fitted can be detected based on whether or not the detection member 5 can be displaced from the initial position to the detection position.

  When the detection member 5 is further pushed, the displacement restriction of the detection member 5 is released. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the pressing piece 45 rides on the locking portion 32 and further approaches the female connector 3. Move and get over the locking part 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the end of the main body 40 in the direction approaching the lever 4 and the end of the lever 4 in the direction away from the female connector 3 come into contact with each other, and the detection member 5 stops moving. The operation unit 43 is exposed on the outer surface of the connector 1 by the notch 51. The operation unit 43 covers the lock release unit 39. The position of the detection member 5 at this time is defined as a detection position (FIGS. 5 and 17).

  When the detection member 5 is positioned at the detection position, the unlocking portion 39 of the lock arm 34 is positioned between the upper wall 49 a of the detection member 5 and the displacement restricting portion 56. When the lock release portion 39 is pushed down, the engagement between the lock receiving portion 38 of the lock arm 34 and the lock portion 21 of the male connector 3 is released. However, the lock release portion 39 is not pushed down by abutting against the displacement restricting portion 56, and the engagement between the lock receiving portion 38 and the lock portion 21 is maintained.

  When the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 fitted to each other are removed, first, the operation portion 43 of the detection member 5 exposed by the notch 51 is pulled away from the lever 4 and moved from the detection position to the initial position. . The restriction release protrusion 47 is provided with a tapered surface on the end surface close to the main body portion 40, and the pair of detection arm portions 42 bend in the direction away from the restriction release portion 14, thereby locking the protrusion in the direction away from the female connector 3. Ride 32 and get over.

  Then, the lock release part 39 of the lock arm 34 is exposed. When the lock release portion 39 is pushed down, the lock receiving portion 38 is lifted away from the outer surface of the male connector 2 and the engagement between the lock portion 21 and the lock receiving portion 38 is released. The detection member 5 is pulled away from the female connector 3 and the lever 4 is rotated away from the female connector 3. The boss 54 of the lever 4 comes out from between the boss receiving protrusion 52 of the female connector 3 and the end 53a of the boss receiving protrusion 53, and the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are separated.

  According to the present embodiment, the lever 4 rotates in a direction approaching the other connector 3 to fit the pair of connectors 2 and 3 together, and the detection position of the detection member 5 is the other position than the initial position of the detection member 5. Close to the connector 3. Therefore, the fitting direction of the connectors 2 and 3, the rotation direction of the lever 4, and the moving direction of the detection member 5 are made the same, and the fitting of the connectors 2 and 3 and the confirmation of the fitting are performed in a series of operations. It can be done with great efficiency. Therefore, the connector can be fitted with good operability.

  The width of the lever 4 and the width of the detection member 5 are substantially equal. For this reason, the force applied to the detection member 5 is distributed and transmitted to the lever 4, and the lever 4 can be rotated by moving the detection member 5. Therefore, the connector can be fitted with good operability.

  The contact surface between the displacement regulating means and the detection member 5 is orthogonal to the displacement direction of the detection member 5. For this reason, the contact surface of the lever 4 and the detection member 5 does not come off, and the lever 4 can be stably rotated by moving the detection member 5. Therefore, the connector can be fitted more efficiently.

  The lever 4 is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the female connector 3 separately from the displacement restricting means. For this reason, even if the detection member 5 is pushed in forcefully, an engaging part is not damaged. Therefore, the fitting operation itself can be continued without affecting the fitting operation itself of the connector. Further, the detection member 5 is structurally more easily damaged than the displacement regulating means. Therefore, it is only necessary to replace the detection member 5, and it is easy to deal with it.

  The lever 4 is provided with a notch 51 that exposes the main body 40 of the detection member 5 positioned at the detection position. For this reason, when the detection member 5 at the detection position is moved to the initial position, the detection member 5 can be moved by touching the main body portion 40 of the detection member 5. Therefore, the operation of removing the fitted connector can be performed with good operability without using a jig or the like.

  The operation unit 43 of the detection member 5 becomes the operation unit 43 of the lever 4. For this reason, the fitting of the connectors 2 and 3 and the confirmation of the fitting can be efficiently performed with a series of operations. Therefore, the connector can be fitted with good operability.

  The operation part 43 of the detection member 5 covers the lock release part of the lever 4. For this reason, the engagement part of the lever 4 and the other connector 3 is protected, and the engagement is held more stably. Therefore, the fitting of the connector can be held more stably.

  A displacement restricting portion 56 that restricts displacement of the unlocking portion 39 in the direction of releasing the engagement is provided. For this reason, the lock release part 39 does not move in the direction of releasing the engagement, and the engagement between the lever 4 and the other connector 3 is held more stably. Therefore, the fitting of the connector can be held more stably.

  In the present embodiment, the lever 4 is attached to the male connector 2, and the lock arm 34 of the lever 4 and the lock portion 21 of the female connector 3 are engaged. However, in the present invention, the lever 4 may be attached to the female connector 3 and the male connector 2 may be provided with the lock portion 21.

  In the present embodiment, the lock arm 34 of the lever 4 is engaged with the lock portion 21 of the female connector 3. However, in the present invention, the lock portion 21 may be provided on the lever 4 and the lock arm 34 may be provided on the female connector 3.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view of the connector concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the detection member shown by FIG. 1 was attached to the lever. It is a notch perspective view which notches and shows a part of lever in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which pushed the detection member shown by FIG. 2, rotated the lever, and fitted the male connector and the female connector. It is a perspective view which shows the state which has the detection member shown by FIG. 4 in a detection position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the male connector shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view of the lever shown by FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view of the lever shown in FIG. 7. It is a perspective view of the detection member shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XI-XI line | wire which shows the state which the lock arm of the lever shown by FIG. 3 got over the lock | rock part. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the lock arm and lock | rock part of the lever which were shown by FIG. 11 engaged. It is sectional drawing which shows the state of the lock arm and lock part of a lever at the time of a male connector and a female connector fitting. It is sectional drawing which follows the XIV-XIV line | wire which shows the state which the press part of the detection member shown by FIG. 3 is latched by the latching | locking part, and a detection member exists in an initial position. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the press part of the detection member shown by FIG. 14 is riding on the latching | locking part. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the press part of the detection member shown by FIG. 15 has overcame the latching | locking part. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the pressing portion of the detection member illustrated in FIG. 16 gets over the locking portion and the detection member is in the detection position.

Explanation of symbols

1 Connector 2 Male connector (one connector)
3 Female connector (the other connector)
4 Lever 5 Detection member 14 Restriction release part (Release release means)
15 Release surface 32 Locking part (displacement restricting means)
33 Locking surface (contact surface)
34 Lock arm (engagement part)
38 Lock receiving portion 39 Lock releasing portion 43 Operating portion 45 Pressing piece 46 Pressing portion 47 Restriction release protrusion 48 Pressing surface (contact surface)
51 cutout

Claims (6)

A pair of connectors matable to each other;
A lever that is rotatably attached to one connector, assists the fitting between the pair of connectors by a rotating operation, and engages with the other connector to hold the fitting,
In the connector provided with a detection member attached to the lever so as to be movable over an initial position and a detection position closer to the other connector than the initial position,
The lever rotates in a direction approaching the other connector to fit the pair of connectors, and until the pair of connectors are correctly fitted, the detection member is displaced from the initial position to the detection position. Displacement regulating means for regulating
Any one of the pair of connectors is provided with a restriction releasing means for releasing the restriction of the displacement of the detection member of the displacement restricting means when the pair of connectors are fitted to each other.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the lever includes an engaging portion that engages with the other connector, and the displacement restricting unit is separate from the engaging portion.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the lever is provided with a notch that exposes an operation portion of the detection member positioned at the detection position. The detection member is attached at a position away from the rotation center of the lever,
A rotation direction in which the pair of connectors of the lever are fitted to each other coincides with a moving direction of the detection member from the initial position to the detection position, and the operation portion serves as an operation portion of the lever. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The lever includes a lock releasing portion for releasing the engagement with the other connector;
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit of the detection member positioned at the detection position covers the lock release unit.   The displacement control part which controls that the said lock release part displaces in the direction which cancels | releases engagement with said other connector is provided, The displacement control part which concerns on any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Connector.

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