JP2021057303A - Connector and connector structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector and a connector structure which makes it easy to attach and detach a connector even in a space-saving arrangement.SOLUTION: A connector includes a connector main body to be electrically connected to a mating connector, and a cover member that covers the connector main body. The cover member is slidable relatively to the connector main body in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to a first direction in which the connector main body is fitted into and released from the mating connector, and an engaging portion which engages with an engaged portion of the mating connector to restrict the movement of the connector main body in a release direction which is a direction in which the connector main body releases from the mating connector in the first direction. The cover member is configured to move in the second direction between an unlocked position where the engaging portion does not engage the engaged portion and a locked position where the engaging portion engages the engaged portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to connectors and connector structures.

In order to prevent disconnection of the connector that is fitted and connected to the mating connector, the connector and the mating connector are provided with an engaging structure that engages with each other. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an engaging structure including a connector having a movable plate integrally provided with an engaging claw and an operating portion, and a mating connector provided with an engaging groove. Such an engaging structure prevents the connector from being disengaged from the mating connector by engaging the engaging claw of the connector and the engaging groove of the mating connector in the mating direction. To release the locked state, press the operation portion of the movable plate to release the engagement.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-119241

However, in the case of a connector having an engaging structure as in Patent Document 1, the operator operates the movable plate unless a space for operating the operation unit (a space for inserting a finger) is secured. Becomes difficult. Therefore, for example, when similar connectors are arranged adjacent to each other, or when the connectors are arranged near the wall of the housing, it is difficult to secure a space for inserting a finger, and it is difficult to unlock the connectors. .. Further, even if the minimum space for operating the operation unit is provided, the operator needs to perform the unlock operation on the operation unit in a narrow space. For these reasons, it is difficult for the connector of Patent Document 1 to be attached to and detached from the mating connector in a narrow space.

Therefore, in view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector and a connector structure in which the connector can be easily attached and detached even in a space-saving arrangement.

A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a connector body that is electrically connected to a mating connector and a cover member that covers the connector body, and the cover member has the connector to the connector body. The main body is slidable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction in which the main body fits and detaches from the mating connector, and the cover member engages with the engaged portion of the mating connector to form the first. The cover member has an engaging portion that regulates the movement of the connector body in one direction, which is the direction in which the connector body is detached from the mating connector, and the engaging portion is the engaged portion. It is configured to move in the second direction between the unlocked position where it does not engage and the locked position where the engaged portion engages with the engaged portion.

It is preferable that the cover member has a holding portion that holds the position of the cover member with respect to the connector body at the lock position and / or the unlock position.

It is preferable that the connector body has a protrusion protruding from the cover member at the locked position or the unlocked position.

The engaging portion has a guide portion that guides the cover member to move from the locked position to the unlocked position when it comes into contact with the engaged portion from the disengagement direction side. It is preferable to do so.

The engaging portion includes an abutting portion capable of abutting and engaging with the engaged portion when it is in the locked position on the disengagement direction side of the engaging portion, and the second direction. It has an end portion provided on the lock direction side, which is a direction from the unlock position to the lock position, and when the connector body is incompletely fitted to the mating connector, the engaging portion is engaged. When moving from the unlocked position to the locked position, it is preferable that the end portion and the engaged portion come into contact with each other in the second direction to restrict the sliding of the cover member.

The connector structure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mating connector body to which the connector body of the connector is fitted, and a mating connector having an engaged portion to which the engaging portion of the connector is engaged. And have.

According to the connector and the connector structure of the present invention, it is possible to easily attach / detach the connector even in a space-saving arrangement.

It is a perspective view which shows the connector of 1st Embodiment of this invention and the mating connector. It is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. (A) is a perspective sectional view of the connector of FIG. 1 cut in a direction perpendicular to the first direction at a position passing through a holding portion of a cover member, and (B) is a state shown in (A). It is a perspective sectional view which shows the state which moved the cover member to a lock position. It is a side view which shows the state before the connector and the mating connector are fitted. From the state shown in FIG. 4A, it is a side view showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector are fitted and the cover member is in the unlocked position. It is a side view which shows the state which the cover member moved to the lock position from the state shown in FIG. 4B. It is a side view which shows the state which the connector and the mating connector are incompletely fitted in the first direction. In the first embodiment, it is a perspective view which shows the state which the cover member of one connector is in an unlock position when a plurality of connectors are arranged adjacent to each other. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the cover member moved to the lock position from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state before the connector and the mating connector are fitted in the second embodiment. From the state shown in FIG. 8A, in the process of fitting the connector toward the mating connector, the guide portion of the cover member is guided by the guided portion of the mating connector, and the cover member moves to the unlocked position. It is a side view which shows the state. From the state shown in FIG. 8B, it is a side view showing a state in which the connector is further fitted to the mating connector and the engaging portion of the connector and the engaged portion of the mating connector are engaged. (A) is a schematic view showing the relationship between the engaged portion and the engaged portion when the connector and the mating connector are in a semi-fitting state in a modified example of the engaging portion of the connector, and (B) is shown. Is a schematic view showing a state in which the cover member is moved from the state (A) to the locked position and the half-fitted state between the connector and the mating connector is eliminated.

Hereinafter, the connector and the connector structure of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are merely examples, and the connector and connector structure of the present invention are not limited to the following embodiments.

(First Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the connector C1 of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a connector main body 1 that is electrically connected to the mating connector C2 and a cover member 2 that covers the connector main body 1.

The connector C1 is fitted with the mating connector C2 and is electrically connected to the mating connector C2. The mating connector C2 includes a mating connector main body C21 to which the connector main body 1 of the connector C1 is fitted. The connector C1 and the mating connector C2 form a connector structure S in which the connector main body 1 and the mating connector main body C21 are fitted. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the connector structure S is configured such that the connector C1 is vertically fitted to the base B to which the mating connector C2 is attached. The use of the connector structure S is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, as will be described later, a plurality of pairs of the connector C1 and the mating connector C2 are provided adjacent to each other (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The substrate B to which the mating connector C2 is attached is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a housing of an electric device, a circuit board, a metal plate, or the like. In the present embodiment, the substrate B is a control module connected to a battery inspection device for inspecting the charge / discharge function of a battery for an electric vehicle, and has a first surface Ba and a second surface Bb which is the opposite surface thereof. Have. In this case, the connector C1 is connected to, for example, an inspection power supply (not shown), and the mating connector C2 is connected to, for example, a control board (not shown) included in the control module.

In the present specification, the direction in which the connector body 1 fits in and detaches from the mating connector C2 is referred to as the first direction D1. Further, in the first direction D1, the direction in which the connector main body 1 fits into the mating connector C2 is called the fitting direction D11, and the direction in which the connector main body 1 detaches from the mating connector C2 is called the detaching direction D12. In the present embodiment, the first direction D1 is a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface Ba of the substrate B. Further, a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction D1 is referred to as a second direction D2. The second direction D2 is a slide direction in which the cover member 2 slides, as will be described later. In the present embodiment, the second direction D2 is the direction 1 substantially parallel to the first surface Ba of the substrate B. Further, the direction perpendicular to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is referred to as a third direction D3.

The connector body 1 fits into the mating connector C2 and is electrically connected to the mating connector C2. The connector main body 1 has a terminal T that is electrically connected to the counterpart terminal CT of the counterpart connector C2, and is connected to the electric wire W via the terminal T. The material of the connector body 1 is not particularly limited, but is made of an insulating material such as plastic. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector main body 1 has a fitting portion 11 that fits into the mating connector main body C21 of the mating connector C2 and a detaching direction D12 side with respect to the fitting portion 11. It is provided with a base 12 provided on the.

The fitting portion 11 is a portion to be fitted and connected to the mating connector main body C21. The shape and structure of the fitting portion 11 are appropriately changed depending on the use of the connector structure S and the like. In the present embodiment, the fitting portion 11 is formed so as to be elongated in a predetermined direction in a cross section perpendicular to the first direction D1. Specifically, the longitudinal direction of the fitting portion 11 coincides with the second direction D2, which is the sliding direction in which the cover member 2 slides with respect to the connector main body 1, as will be described later. The lateral direction of the fitting portion 11 coincides with the third direction D3 perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2.

The base portion 12 is a portion that supports the fitting portion 11. The shape and structure of the base 12 are appropriately changed depending on the use of the connector structure S and the like. In the present embodiment, the base portion 12 is formed so as to be elongated in a predetermined direction in a cross section perpendicular to the first direction D1, similarly to the fitting portion 11. Specifically, the longitudinal direction of the base 12 coincides with the second direction D2, which is the sliding direction of the cover member 2, and the lateral direction of the base 12 coincides with the third direction D3. As will be described later, the base portion 12 also functions as a guide when the cover member 2 slides with respect to the connector main body 1.

In the present embodiment, the connector main body 1 is formed so as to be elongated in the second direction D2 as a whole by providing such a fitting portion 11 and a base portion 12. Specifically, the longitudinal direction of the connector body 1 coincides with the slide direction (second direction D2), and the lateral direction of the connector body 1 coincides with the third direction D3.

The mating connector C2 has a mating terminal CT, and by fitting with the connector main body 1, is electrically connected to the connector C1 via the mating terminal CT. As shown in FIG. 1, the mating connector C2 has a mating connector main body C21 and an engaged portion E to which the engaging portion 21 of the connector C1 engages, as will be described later. The material constituting the mating connector C2 is not particularly limited, but is preferably an insulating material such as plastic. In the present embodiment, the mating connector main body C21 has a mating mating portion C211 that fits into the connector main body 1 of the connector C1 and a mating base C212 provided on the mating direction D11 side with respect to the mating mating portion C211. I have.

The mating portion C211 is a portion to be fitted and connected to the connector main body 1. The shape and structure of the mating portion C211 are not particularly limited as long as they correspond to the mating portion 11 of the connector main body 1 which is the mating partner. The mating base portion C212 is a portion that supports the mating mating portion C211. The shape and structure of the mating base C212 are not particularly limited. The shapes and structures of the connector C1 and the mating connector C2 are not particularly limited as long as they can be fitted to each other. In the present embodiment, the connector C1 and the mating connector C2 are of the same type (male and female same type). Further, in the present embodiment, in the mating connector C2, the mating portion C211 is located on the first surface Ba (disengagement direction D12) side, and the mating base portion C212 is located on the second surface Bb (fitting direction D11) side. As described above, the substrate B is inserted into a through hole penetrating between the first surface Ba and the second surface Bb and fixed to the substrate B. The engaging portion 21 of the connector C1 and the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2 will be described later.

Next, the cover member 2 will be described. The cover member 2 is a member that covers the connector main body 1, and engages with the mating connector C2 (the mating connector main body C21) so that the connector main body 1 does not separate from the mating connector C2. The cover member 2 is slidable with respect to the connector main body 1 in the second direction D2 which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction D1 in which the connector main body 1 fits and detaches from the mating connector C2. The cover member 2 engages with the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2 and restricts the connector body 1 from moving in the disengaging direction D12, which is the direction in which the connector main body 1 disengages from the mating connector C2, in the first direction D1. It has an engaging portion 21. The cover member 2 has an unlocked position in which the engaging portion 21 does not engage with the engaged portion E (see, for example, FIG. 4B) and a locked position in which the engaging portion 21 engages with the engaged portion E (for example, FIG. 4C). (See) is configured to move in the second direction D2.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 2 covers the connector main body 1 at least partially so that the base portion 12 of the connector main body 1 is housed therein and the fitting portion 11 of the connector main body 1 protrudes from the cover member 2. ing. Since the cover member 2 covers the connector body 1 in this way, the insulating property of the connector C1 can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 2 has a first opening 2x configured such that the fitting portion 11 of the connector body 1 projects from the inside of the cover member 2 to the outside, and the cover member 2 from the inside to the outside. And a second opening 2y from which the electric wire W is led out. The first opening 2x is provided in the fitting direction D11 of the cover member 2. The second opening 2y is appropriately changed depending on the lead-out direction of the electric wire W, but in the present embodiment, the second opening 2y is provided in the second direction D2 (locking direction D21) of the cover member 2.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 2 has an elongated box shape that is short in the third direction D3 and long in the second direction D2 that is the sliding direction. The second direction D2, which is the slide direction, is preferably along the longitudinal direction of the fitting portion 11 of the connector main body 1. By doing so, it becomes easy to secure the slide length of the cover member 2, so that the slide of the cover member 2 becomes stable.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover member 2 is unlocked from the back surface 2a on the detaching direction D12 side of the first direction D1 and the unlocking of the second direction D2 (sliding direction). It has a top surface 2b on the direction D22 side, a bottom surface 2c on the lock direction D21 side in the second direction D2 (slide direction), and side surfaces 2d in each direction of the third direction D3. Since the cover member 2 has the top surface 2b and the bottom surface 2c, the cover member 2 can be easily moved in the lock direction D21 and the unlock direction D22 in the second direction D2. Further, since the cover member 2 has the back surface 2a, the cover member 2 can be strongly pushed in the fitting direction D11. In the present embodiment, the side surface 2d of the cover member 2 does not have an operation portion or the like as in the prior art, and is formed as a flat surface.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 2 is composed of a pair of cover elements 20A and 20B, as shown in FIG. The cover element 20A accommodates the connector body 1 on one direction side of the third direction D3, and the cover element 20B houses the connector body 1 on the other direction side of the third direction D3. In the present embodiment, the connector C1 is configured by sandwiching the connector main body 1 in the third direction D3 with such a pair of cover elements 20A and 20B. The pair of cover elements 20A and 20B are fixed to each other by an engaging mechanism 23 (see FIG. 1) that engages with each other. In the present embodiment, the engaging claws 23a and the engaging frame 23b that engage with each other are provided on the back surfaces 2a of the cover elements 20A and 20B, respectively, and the engaging claws 23a and the engaging frame 23b engage with each other to cover the cover. The elements 20A and 20B are detachably fixed to each other with the connector body 1 sandwiched between them.

The cover member 2 may be formed as one member instead of being composed of the half-split cover elements 20A and 20B. The material of the cover member 2 is not particularly limited, but the cover member 2 is preferably made of an insulating material such as plastic.

As described above, the cover member 2 is configured to slide in the second direction D2 between the locked position and the unlocked position with respect to the connector main body 1. As shown in FIG. 4C, the lock position is the position of the cover member 2 when the engaging portion 21 engages with the engaged portion E in the first direction D1. Further, the unlock position is the position of the cover member 2 when the engaging portion 21 does not engage with the engaged portion E in the first direction D1 as shown in FIG. 4B. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the cover member 2 slides in the second direction D2 with respect to the connector main body 1, but the movement in the first direction D1 is restricted.

The cover member 2 (at least one of the cover elements 20A and 20B) has an guiding portion 24 that guides the connector body 1 in the second direction D2 when the connector body 1 is slid in the second direction D2. You may be doing it. The guide portion 24 is not particularly limited as long as the cover member 2 can be guided in the second direction D2, but in the present embodiment, the guide portion 24 extends along the second direction D2 and the base portion 12 of the connector main body 1 is first. It is a wall-shaped guide sandwiched in the direction D1.

The cover member 2 may have a holding portion 22 that holds the position of the cover member 2 with respect to the connector body 1 at the locked position and / or the unlocked position. When the cover member 2 has the holding portion 22, the cover member 2 is held in the locked position and / or the unlocked position, and the locked state or the unlocked state of the cover member 2 with the mating connector C2 can be maintained. .. In the present embodiment, the holding portion 22 has a first holding portion 221 that holds the position of the cover member 2 with respect to the connector main body 1 at the locked position, and a second holding portion 221 that holds the position of the cover member 2 with respect to the connector main body 1 at the unlocked position. It has a holding portion 222.

The structure of the holding portion 22 is not particularly limited as long as the position of the cover member 2 with respect to the connector body 1 can be held at the locked position and / or the unlocked position. In the present embodiment, the first holding portion 221 and the second holding portion 222 respectively extend in the second direction D2 and engage with the connector main body 1 in the second direction D2 as leaf springs, respectively, as shown in FIG. It is formed. In the present embodiment, the first holding portion 221 and the second holding portion 222 are leaf springs provided by cutting out the wall of the cover member 2 (side surface 2d). Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the leaf spring-shaped first holding portion 221 and the second holding portion 222 have convex portions 221a and 222a at their respective tips. ing. Further, the connector main body 1 has a held portion 14 that engages with the holding portion 22. Specifically, the base portion 12 of the connector body 1 has a first held portion 141 that engages with the first holding portion 221 at the locked position and a second held portion that engages with the second holding portion 222 at the unlocked position. It has a unit 142. More specifically, the first held portion 141 is a concave portion that engages with the convex portion 221a at the locked position (see FIG. 3B), and the second held portion 142 is convex at the unlocked position. It is a recess that engages with the portion 222a (see FIG. 3A). As described above, in the present embodiment, the cover member 2 can be easily held at the locked position and / or the unlocked position by the leaf spring cut out from the wall of the cover member 2.

Further, in the present embodiment, the convex portion 221a engages with the corner portion 15a on the unlocking direction D22 side of the base portion 12 of the connector main body 1 at the unlocked position (see FIG. 3A), and the convex portion 222a is At the lock position, the base portion 12 of the connector body 1 engages with the corner portion 15b on the lock direction D21 side (see FIG. 3B). As a result, the cover member 2 can be held more stably at the locked position and the unlocked position.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the connector body 1 may have a protrusion 13 protruding from the cover member 2 at the locked or unlocked position. In the present embodiment, protrusions 13 projecting in the second direction D2 are provided at the ends of the base portion 12 of the connector body 1 in both directions (locking direction D21 and unlocking direction D22) in the second direction D2. Further, in the present embodiment, corresponding to these protrusions 13, through holes 2h penetrating the second direction D2 are provided at the ends of the cover member 2 in both directions in the second direction D2. As a result, the protrusion 13 protrudes from the cover member 2 through the through hole 2h. By visually recognizing whether or not the protrusion 13 protrudes from the cover member 2, the operator locks the engaging portion 21 of the connector C1 and the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2 (cover member 2 and the mating side). The engagement state with the connector C2) can be confirmed. The protrusion 13 may be provided on only one side of the connector body 1 in the second direction D2.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the cover member 2 engages with the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2, and the disengagement direction D12, which is the direction in which the connector main body 1 disengages from the mating connector C2 in the first direction D1. It has an engaging portion 21 that regulates movement to. When a force in the disengagement direction D12 is applied to the cover member 2 or the connector body 1, the engaging portion 21 engages with the engaged portion E in the first direction D1, and the connector body 1 and the cover member 2 engage with the mating connector. Suppresses withdrawal from C2.

As described above, the connector C1 according to the present embodiment has the cover member 2 that covers the connector main body 1, and slides the cover member 2 in the second direction D2 that is perpendicular to the first direction D1 that is the mating direction. By doing so, the engaging portion 21 of the cover member 2 and the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2 can be engaged with each other. Therefore, if there is a slight gap in the second direction D2, the connector C1 can be locked and unlocked. Then, in order to put the cover member 2 into the locked state and the unlocked state, it is only necessary to slide the cover member 2 in the second direction D2. Therefore, the connector is removed from the mating connector while the operation portion is pressed like the connector of Patent Document 1. You don't have to. Further, since the connector C1 can be locked and unlocked by sliding the cover member 2, the connector C1 is similar to the connector C1 in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (second direction D2) of the cover member 2. The connector C1 can be easily attached and detached even when the devices are arranged adjacent to each other or when the wall portion of the housing of the device is present. Therefore, according to the connector C1 of the present embodiment, the connector C1 can be easily attached and detached even in a space-saving arrangement.

The structures of the engaging portion 21 and the engaged portion E are not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the engaging portion 21 is engaged when the engaging portion 21 is in the locked position on the disengagement direction D12 side of the engaging portion 21. It has an abutting portion 211 that abuts and engages with the portion E. In this case, the contact portion 211 is engaged with the engaged portion E in the first direction D1. Further, in the present embodiment, the engaging portion 21 further has an end portion 212 provided on the locking direction D21 side, which is a direction from the unlocking position to the locking position, in the second direction D2. The end 212 defines the insertion position of the engaged portion E into the first opening 2x (see FIGS. 4A and 4B).

In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 21 is provided on the inner surface of the cover member 2 as shown in FIG. Specifically, the engaging portion 21 extends along the opening edge of the first opening 2x of the cover member 2 on the inner surface of the side surface 2d of the cover member 2 in the second direction D2 by a predetermined length. A protrusion having a predetermined height in the direction D3. On the other hand, the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2 extends from the outer surface of the mating portion C211 at the end of the mating fitting portion C211 in the first direction D1 by a predetermined length in the second direction D2. A protrusion having a predetermined height in the direction D3. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the engaging portion 21 is a stopper capable of contacting the end portion of the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2 in the second direction D2 in the second direction D2. It has a part 213. In this case, when the cover member 2 is moved to the lock position, the end portion of the engaged portion E in the second direction D2 and the stopper portion 213 come into contact with each other, and the cover member 2 is locked together with the holding portion 22. Can be held stably at.

In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 21 is configured as a continuous elongated protrusion in the second direction D2, but the shape and structure of the engaging portion 21 are engaged with the engaged portion E in the first direction D1. If it can be done, it is not particularly limited. For example, the engaging portion 21 may be one point-shaped protrusion, or may be a plurality of protrusions divided in the second direction D2.

Further, in the present embodiment, the engaging portion 21 is provided on the inner surface of the side surface 2d of the cover member 2, but the cover member 2 has moved from the unlocked position to the locked position at the installation location of the engaging portion 21. At that time, there is no particular limitation as long as it can be engaged with the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2. For example, the engaged portion E is provided on the top surface C211a of the mating portion C211 (the surface of the mating fitting portion C211 on the unlocking direction D22 side; see FIG. 1), and the cover member 2 is moved to the locked position. At that time, the engaging portion 21 may be provided so as to face the engaged portion E provided on the top surface C211a in the first direction D1. Further, for example, an engaged portion E formed as a through hole or a recess is provided in the second direction D2 on the top surface C211a of the mating portion C211, and the engaging portion 21 is moved to the lock position by the cover member 2. At that time, it may be a pin-shaped protrusion that fits into the engaged portion E formed as the through hole or the recess.

Hereinafter, the effects of the connector C1 and the connector structure S of the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4A to 5. The following description is merely an example, and the connector and the connector structure of the present invention are not limited to the following description.

First, when the connector C1 is fitted to the mating connector C2, the connector C1 is moved toward the mating connector C2 in the fitting direction D11 from the state shown in FIG. 4A. The back surface 2a of the cover member 2 of the connector C1 is pushed in the fitting direction D11 so that the fitting portion 11 of the connector main body 1 fits with the mating fitting portion C211 of the mating connector main body C21. As a result, the connector main body 1 moves in the fitting direction D11 via the cover member 2. At this time, since the cover member 2 is held by the holding portion 22 in the connector main body 1, the cover member 2 does not move in the second direction D2 with respect to the connector main body 1.

When the connector C1 moves in the fitting direction D11, the engaged portion E moves from the first opening 2x of the cover member 2 so as to pass through the end portion 212 of the engaging portion 21, and the fitting portion 11 moves. It is fitted with the mating portion C211 (see FIG. 4B). Next, for example, by pushing the top surface 2b of the cover member 2 toward the locked position, the cover member 2 at the unlocked position is moved toward the locked position. The pushing is not limited to this method, and may be performed by another appropriate method such as hooking a finger on the engaging mechanism 23 protruding from the back surface 2a of the cover member 2 and pushing the cover member 2. When a force equal to or greater than the holding force of the holding portion 22 is applied to the cover member 2, the cover member 2 slides with respect to the connector main body 1 (see FIG. 4C). After the cover member 2 slides, the engaging portion 21 is located on the fitting direction D11 side with respect to the engaged portion E, so that when the connector C1 tries to move in the disengaging direction D12, the contact portion 211 Becomes a barrier to movement in the departure direction D12. Therefore, the movement of the connector C1 in the detaching direction D12 is hindered, and the connector C1 is prevented from being detached from the mating connector C2. Further, the position of the cover member 2 is held at the locked position by the holding portion 22 described above.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the operator has no space in the third direction D3, especially when a plurality of connectors C1 are arranged adjacent to the third direction D3. Even so, the connector C1 can be easily locked to the mating connector C2 by sliding the cover member 2 in the second direction D2. Further, the operator can see the bottom surface 2c on the second direction D2 (locking direction D21) side of the cover member 2 and the engaging mechanism 23 on the first direction D1 (disengagement direction D12) side from a direction different from the third direction D3. The connector C1 can be easily unlocked from the mating connector C2 by touching the cover member 2 in the unlocking direction D22 by touching a finger or the like. In this way, even when a plurality of connectors C1 are arranged adjacent to each other in the third direction D3, the connector C1 can be easily attached to and detached from the mating connector C2. Therefore, the connector structure S can be made compact.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, when the engaging portion 21 moves from the unlocked position to the locked position when the connector main body 1 is incompletely fitted to the mating connector C2. The end portion 212 and the engaged portion E are configured to come into contact with each other in the second direction D2. In this case, even if the cover member 2 is slid while the connector body 1 and the mating connector C2 are half-fitted, the end portion 212 and the top surface Ea of the engaged portion E (unlocking the engaged portion E). The surface on the direction D22 side) comes into contact with the cover member 2, and the slide of the cover member 2 is restricted. Therefore, the cover member 2 cannot be moved to the locked position. Therefore, the operator can grasp that the connector main body 1 is in a half-fitted state with respect to the mating connector C2 because the cover member 2 does not slide. Therefore, after the connector C1 is sufficiently inserted into the mating connector C2, the connector C1 can be locked to the mating connector C2 by the cover member 2. As a result, half-fitting of the connector main body 1 with respect to the mating connector C2 is prevented.

(Second Embodiment)
In the connector C1 and the connector structure S according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the engaging portion 21 comes into contact with the engaged portion E from the disengagement direction D12 side, the cover member 2 is unlocked from the locked position. It has a guide unit 215 that guides the user to move toward the lock position. In this respect, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment. In the following, with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C, only the configuration of the second embodiment different from the first embodiment will be described.

When the guide portion 215 moves the connector C1 to the mating direction D11 with respect to the mating connector C2 and fits the connector C1, the guide portion 215 comes into contact with the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2, and the cover member 2 from the engaged portion E. Is tilted to receive the force to move it from the locked position to the unlocked position. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the guide portion 215 is provided on the fitting direction D11 side of the engaging portion 21, and is an inclined surface facing the fitting direction D11 and the locking direction D21. The inclined surface is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a flat surface. However, the inclined surface may be a curved surface.

The shape and structure of the engaged portion E are not particularly limited as long as they can come into contact with the guide portion 215 and move the cover member 2 from the locked position to the unlocked position. In the present embodiment, the engaged portion E also changes the cover member 2 from the locked position to the unlocked position when it comes into contact with the engaging portion 21 from the fitting direction D11 side, similarly to the guide portion 215. It has a guided portion E1 that guides it to move toward it. The guided portion E1 is provided on the side of the engaged portion E in the disengagement direction D12, and is an inclined surface facing the disengagement direction D12 and the unlocking direction D22. The inclined surface is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a flat surface. However, the inclined surface may be a curved surface. In the present embodiment, the guide portion 215 comes into surface contact with the guided portion E1 when it comes into contact with the engaged portion E from the disengagement direction D12 side. In this way, both the guide portion 215 and the guided portion E1 guide the cover member 2, so that the stability of the guide is increased.

The number of the guide portion 215 and the guided portion E1 may be one or plural. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, two guide portions 215 and two guided portions E1 are provided. Further, when the guided portion E1 is provided, the guide portion 215 may not be provided.

In the present embodiment, with the cover member 2 in the locked position (see FIG. 8A), the connector body 1 faces the mating connector C2, and the connector body 1 of the first direction D1 fits into the mating connector C2. When the cover member 2 is moved in the fitting direction D11, the cover member 2 is moved toward the unlocked position by the guide portion 215 (see FIG. 8B). Specifically, when the connector C1 moves in the fitting direction D11, the guide portion 215 comes into contact with the guided portion E1, and the guided portion E1 presses the guide portion 215 in the unlocking direction D22, whereby the cover member 2 Moves towards the unlock position. After the engaging portion 21 crosses the engaged portion E in the first direction D1, the cover member 2 moves to the locked position, and the engaging portion 21 and the engaged portion E are engaged (FIG. 8C). reference). Specifically, when the guide portion 215 moves from the guided portion E1 to the fitting direction D11, the guide portion 215 is not supported by the guided portion E1, so that the cover member 2 moves to the locked position by gravity.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, even if the cover member 2 is in the locked position, the connector C1 can be semi-automatically locked to the mating connector C2 by moving the cover member 2 in the fitting direction D11.

(Other embodiments)
The connector and the connector structure according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the engaging portion 21 of the cover member 2 is tapered so that the width of the first direction D1 becomes narrower in the second direction D2 toward the locking direction D21. It may have a part TP. In this case, if the connector body 1 is half-fitted with the mating connector C2, the engaged portion E of the mating connector C2 comes into contact with the tapered portion TP when the cover member 2 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. .. After that, the connector main body 1 is pressed so as to move in the direction of fitting the cover member 2 in the mating direction D11, that is, in the fitting direction D11 by the force of pressing the cover member 2 in the locking direction D21. This prevents the mating connector C2 from being locked to the cover member 2 while the connector main body 1 is half-fitted with the mating connector C2. The tapered portion TP is fitted to the engaged portion E in the first direction D1 when the connector main body 1 and the mating connector C2 are fitted in the first direction D1 at a normal fitting depth. It is set to be located on the direction D11 side (see FIG. 9B). As a result, when the half-fitted state between the connector main body 1 and the mating connector C2 is resolved, the cover member 2 moves to the locked position and engages with the contact portion 211 extending along the second direction D2. Engagement with the portion E in the first direction D1 prevents the connector main body 1 from moving in the detaching direction D12 with respect to the mating connector C2. In the present embodiment, the engaged portion E is also provided with a tapered portion at the end of the unlocking direction D22 in the second direction D2.

In the above embodiment, the electric wire W connected to the terminal T of the connector main body 1 is pulled out from the cover member 2 in the locking direction D21. However, the pull-out direction of the electric wire W is not particularly limited as long as the connector main body 1 can be fitted with the mating connector C2 and the cover member 2 can lock and unlock the mating connector C2. For example, the pull-out direction of the electric wire W may be the detachment direction D12.

In the above embodiment, the connector main body 1 and the mating connector main body C21 (mating connector C2) are connectors of the same type (male and female same type). However, the connector main body 1 and the mating connector main body C21 are not particularly limited as long as they are connectors that can be paired with each other. Further, in the above embodiment, the connector main body 1 and the mating connector main body C21 are wire-to-wire connection connectors. However, the connector main body 1 and the mating connector main body C21 (counting connector C2) are not particularly limited, and may be connectors of other forms such as a board-to-wire connection connector and a board-to-board connection connector.

1 Connector body 11 Fitting part 12 Base part 13 Protrusion part 14 Held part 141 First held part 142 Second held part 15a, 15b Square part 2 Cover member 2a Back surface 2b Top surface 2c Bottom surface 2d Side surface 2h Through hole 2x No. 1 Opening 2y 2nd opening 20A, 20B Cover element 21 Engaging part 211 Contact part 212 End part 213 Stopper part 215 Guide part 22 Holding part 221 1st holding part 221a Convex part 222 2nd holding part 222a Convex part 23 Engagement mechanism 23a Engagement claw 23b Engagement frame 24 Induction part B Base Ba 1st surface Bb 2nd surface C1 connector C2 Opposite connector C21 Opposite connector body C211 Opposite fitting part C211a Top surface of mating mating part C212 Mating terminal D1 1st direction D11 Fitting direction D12 Detachment direction D2 2nd direction D21 Locking direction D22 Unlocking direction D3 3rd direction E Engagement part Ea Top surface of engaged part E1 Guided part S Connector structure T terminal TP taper part W wire

Claims (6)

A connector body that is electrically connected to the mating connector and a cover member that covers the connector body are provided.
The cover member is slidable with respect to the connector body in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction in which the connector body fits into and detaches from the mating connector.
The cover member engages with the engaged portion of the mating connector to restrict the connector body from moving in the disengaging direction, which is the disengaging direction from the mating connector, in the first direction. Has a part
The cover member moves in the second direction between an unlocked position where the engaged portion does not engage with the engaged portion and a locked position where the engaged portion engages with the engaged portion. A connector that is configured to do so. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has a holding portion that holds a position of the cover member with respect to the connector body at the lock position and / or the unlock position. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector body has a protrusion protruding from the cover member at the locked position or the unlocked position. The engaging portion has a guide portion that guides the cover member to move from the locked position to the unlocked position when it comes into contact with the engaged portion from the disengagement direction side. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The engaging portion includes an abutting portion capable of abutting and engaging with the engaged portion when it is in the locked position on the disengagement direction side of the engaging portion, and the engaging portion in the second direction. It has an end provided on the lock direction side, which is the direction from the unlock position to the lock position.
When the connector body is incompletely fitted to the mating connector, the end and the engaged portion engage when the engaging portion moves from the unlocked position to the locked position. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which abuts in the second direction and restricts the slide of the cover member. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A connector structure including a mating connector body to which the connector body of the connector fits, and a mating connector having an engaged portion with which the engaging portion of the connector engages.

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