JP2024030609A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To suppress looseness between a housing body and a cover after assembly. A housing 20 includes a housing body 30 that holds a terminal fitting 10 in a protruding state, and a cover 40 that surrounds a protruding portion of the terminal fitting from the housing body, and the housing body has a main body locking part 32. The cover can be locked to the main body locking part at the completed assembly position with the housing body, and by locking to the main body locking part, the housing main body and cover can remain in the completed assembly position. The housing body has a pair of cantilevered flexible arms 51, and the cover has a flexible arm accommodation groove that accommodates the pair of flexible arms at the completed assembly position. 52, each of the pair of flexible arms is capable of elastic deformation in the direction of narrowing the distance between them, and the elastic force associated with the elastic deformation is applied to the pair of opposing flexible arm accommodation grooves at the assembly completion position. to respectively act on the wall 52b. [Selection diagram] Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, a connector is provided with a terminal fitting and a housing, and it is known that the housing adopts a two-part structure consisting of a housing body and a cover. In this type of connector, there is not only tolerance variation between the terminal fitting and the housing, but also tolerance variation between the housing body and the cover. In this connector, such various tolerance variations can ensure ease of assembly between the terminal fitting and the housing and between the housing body and the cover. On the other hand, in this connector, after the housing body and the cover have been assembled, tolerance variations between the housing body and the cover become a factor that causes looseness between the housing body and the cover. For example, in the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, the housing main body and the cover are guided along the assembly direction by a wedge guide projection on one side and a wedge guide groove on the other side. In this connector, the wedge guide protrusion and the wedge guide groove are held in a press-fit state by a press-fit protrusion provided on at least one of the wedge guide protrusion and the wedge guide groove, thereby suppressing rattling between the housing body and the cover. There is. In addition, in the connectors of Patent Documents 2 and 3 below, a plate spring is provided at the tip of the ceiling wall of the cover, and the reaction force when the plate spring is brought into contact with the cylindrical body of the housing body and bent causes the housing to Prevents rattling between the main body and cover.

JP 2021-64568 Publication JP2018-098114A JP2018-098115A

In this way, conventional connectors use the force applied from a certain part of the housing body to a certain part of the cover and the reaction force of that force to eliminate looseness between the housing body and the cover after assembly. However, there is still room for improvement in suppressing the wobbling.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector suitable for suppressing looseness between the housing body and the cover after assembly.

The present invention includes a terminal fitting and a housing in which the terminal fitting is housed, and the housing includes a housing main body that holds the terminal fitting in a protruding state, and a housing that is assembled to the housing main body and includes a a cover surrounding a protruding portion from the housing body, the housing body having a body locking portion, and the cover locking to the body locking portion at a position where assembly with the housing body is completed. and a cover locking portion capable of holding the housing main body and the cover in the assembly completion position by locking with the main body locking portion, the housing main body and the cover are , a pair of cantilevered flexible arms provided on one of the flexible arms, and a flexible arm accommodating groove provided on the other of the arms for accommodating the pair of flexible arms at the assembly completion position, The pair of flexible arms are each capable of elastic deformation in a direction that narrows the distance between them, and the elastic force accompanying the elastic deformation is applied to the pair of opposing walls in the flexible arm housing groove at the assembly completion position. It is characterized in that it acts on each of them.

In the connector according to the present invention, a rattling suppression mechanism is configured by a pair of flexible arms provided on one of the housing body and the cover, and a flexible arm accommodating groove provided on the other of the flexible arms, and the rattling is suppressed. The mechanism can suppress rattling between the housing body and the cover after assembly.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pair of flexible arms and a flexible arm receiving groove at a completed assembly position. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the connector of the embodiment viewed from the side. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the engagement start position between the pair of flexible arms and the flexible arm housing groove. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the engagement progress position of the pair of flexible arms and the flexible arm housing groove, viewed from the side. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the connector and the mating connector before connector fitting and connection. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connector and the mating connector after the connectors are fitted and connected. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the mating connector.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, embodiment of the connector based on this invention is described in detail based on drawing. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[Embodiment]
One embodiment of the connector according to the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 9.

Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 8 indicates the connector of this embodiment. This connector 1 is fitted and connected with a mating connector 501 along the fitting direction to electrically connect them (FIGS. 7 to 9).

The connector 1 includes a terminal fitting 10 and a housing 20 in which the terminal fitting 10 is accommodated (FIGS. 1, 4, and 7). In this connector 1, the housing 20 has a two-part structure consisting of a housing body 30 and a cover 40, and is completed by assembling the housing body 30 and cover 40 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7).

On the other hand, the mating connector 501 includes a mating terminal fitting 510 and a mating housing 520 in which the mating terminal fitting 510 is accommodated (FIGS. 7 to 9).

One of the terminal metal fittings 10 and the other terminal metal fitting 510 is formed as a female terminal, and the other of them is formed as a male terminal. The terminal fitting 10 and the mating terminal fitting 510 are fitted and connected along the fitting direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector 501, and are physically and electrically connected to each other. Here, the terminal fitting 10 is formed as a male terminal having a shaft-shaped male terminal part 11 (FIGS. 1, 4, and 7), and a tuning fork-shaped female terminal that holds the male terminal part 11 in a slot. A mating terminal fitting 510 is molded as shown in FIG.

Between the connector 1 and the mating connector 501 shown here, a plurality of combinations of the terminal fitting 10 and the mating terminal fitting 510 are provided. In the connector 1, for example, a flexible circuit board (not shown) such as a flexible printed circuit board (so-called FPC) is connected to the side opposite to the male terminal portion 11 of each terminal fitting 10. There is.

The housing 20 (housing main body 30 and cover 40) and the counterpart housing 520 are each molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

The housing 20 and the mating housing 520 are fitted and connected together with the connector fitting connection between the connector 1 and the mating connector 501 along the fitting direction. In the following, when the term "fitting direction" is used without any special mention, it refers to the fitting direction between the connector 1 and the mating connector 501, the fitting direction between the terminal fitting 10 and the mating terminal fitting 510, and the housing. 20 and the mating housing 520.

The housing body 30 holds the terminal fitting 10 in a protruding state (FIGS. 1 and 7). The cover 40 is assembled to the housing body 30 and surrounds the protruding portion of the terminal fitting 10 from the housing body 30 (FIGS. 1 and 7).

The housing body 30 is provided with a terminal holding portion 31 that holds the terminal fitting 10 (FIGS. 1, 4, and 7). In this housing body 30, the axial direction of the male terminal part 11 of the terminal fitting 10 is aligned with the fitting direction, and the male terminal part 11 is made to protrude from the terminal holding part 31. The terminal holding portion 31 is provided with a terminal accommodating chamber 30a for each terminal fitting 10, which accommodates and holds the holding portion 12 of the terminal fitting 10 (FIG. 4). In this terminal holding portion 31, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 30a are arranged at approximately equal intervals in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction. The terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 30a along the fitting direction from the male terminal part 11, and the holding part 12 of the terminal fitting 10 is fitted with the male terminal part 11 coming out to the outside. The terminal holding portion 31 shown here has a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose longitudinal direction is the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 30a.

On the other hand, the cover 40 has a cover main body 41 that covers the terminal holding part 31 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7). This cover main body 41 includes a cover main wall 41a that covers one outer wall surface 31a located in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction in the terminal holding part 31 and the arrangement direction of the terminal holding chambers 30a, and a terminal holding chamber in the terminal holding part 31. It has cover side walls 41b, 41b that respectively cover two side wall surfaces 31b, 31b located in the arrangement direction of 30a (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6).

A locking mechanism (hereinafter referred to as "housing locking mechanism") 42 is provided between the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 to hold them in the assembled position (FIGS. 1 and 3). to Figure 7). Specifically, the housing main body 30 has a locking part (hereinafter referred to as "main body locking part") 32 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7). The cover 40 can be locked to the main body locking portion 32 at the assembly completion position with the housing main body 30, and the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 can be locked by locking to the main body locking portion 32. It has a locking part (hereinafter referred to as "cover locking part") 42a that can be held in the assembled completed position (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6).

The main body locking portions 32 shown here are protrusions formed in the shape of claws, and one is provided on each side wall surface 31b, 31b of the terminal holding portion 31. Further, the cover locking portion 42a shown here is a piece-like piece that is hooked and locked to the claw-shaped main body locking portion 32, and is a pair of flexible lock arm portions (hereinafter referred to as “ One lock arm is provided on each of the cover side walls 41b and 41b of the cover main body 41 via the first lock arm section 42b and 42b (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 6).

In the first lock arm part 42b, a cover locking part 42a is provided at one end thereof, and the other end is connected to the cover side wall 41b (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 6). The pair of first lock arm parts 42b, 42b are arm parts that connect the cover side wall 41b and the cover locking part 42a with a space between them. The pair of first lock arm parts 42b, 42b bring the main body locking part 32 and the cover locking part 42a into contact when the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled, and then the cover locking part 42a comes into contact with the main body locking part 42a. The cover locking portion 42a is bent by the force received from the main body locking portion 32 so that the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 reach the assembly completion position by climbing over the stop portion 32. The main body locking portion 32 is arranged in a space surrounded by the cover locking portion 42a and the pair of first lock arm portions 42b, 42b when the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are in the assembled position. (Figures 1 and 3).

In this housing lock mechanism 42, when the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled along the assembly direction, the main body locking part 32 and the cover locking part 42a are brought into contact with each other, and the locking part 32 is removed from the main body locking part 32. The cover locking portion 42a receiving the force bends the pair of first locking arm portions 42b, 42b. Between the housing main body 30 and the cover 40, when the cover locking portion 42a climbs over the main body locking portion 32, the assembly is completed, and the deflection of the pair of first lock arm portions 42b, 42b is released. At this time, the main body locking portion 32 and the cover locking portion 42a are arranged to lock the movement of the housing body 30 and the cover 40 in the removal direction opposite to the assembly direction.

The housing 20 has a cylindrical hood 21 provided with a fitting chamber 21a into which a mating connector 501 is fitted (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7). The connector 1 is fitted with a mating connector 501 in the fitting chamber 21a of the hood 21.

The hood 21 has a two-part structure including a first hood part 21A provided on the housing body 30 and a second hood part 21B provided on the cover 40 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7). The hood 21 is formed by combining the first hood part 21A and the second hood part 21B at a position where the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled.

The hood 21 shown here is formed into a rectangular tube shape having a pair of first opposing walls 21b, 21b and a pair of second opposing walls 21c, 21c, which are arranged to face each other with a fitting chamber 21a therebetween (see FIG. 1). In this hood 21, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped fitting chamber 21a is formed by a space surrounded by the pair of first opposing walls 21b, 21b and the pair of second opposing walls 21c, 21c.

In this hood 21, a pair of second opposing walls 21c, 21c extend along the longitudinal direction of the terminal holding portion 31 of the housing body 30 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Moreover, in this hood 21, one second opposing wall 21c is provided in the first hood part 21A, and the other second opposing wall 21c is provided in the second hood part 21B (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6). ). Further, in this hood 21, the pair of first opposing walls 21b, 21b are divided into a housing main body 30 side and a cover 40 side, respectively, along the fitting direction, and the pair of first opposing walls 21b, 21b are divided into a housing main body 30 side and a cover 40 side. are provided in the first hood portion 21A, and the remaining portions of the pair of first opposing walls 21b, 21b are provided in the second hood portion 21B (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6).

The first hood portion 21A is provided to protrude from the terminal holding portion 31 of the housing body 30, and covers the male terminal portion 11 of each terminal fitting 10 (FIGS. 1 and 7). Further, the second hood portion 21B is provided in a manner to protrude from the cover main body 41 of the cover 40, and covers the male terminal portion 11 of each terminal fitting 10 when the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are in the assembled position. (Figures 1 and 7).

In the first hood portion 21A, one second opposing wall 21c is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape (FIGS. 1 and 4). The first hood portion 21A is attached to each side of the second opposing wall 21c perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 30a (the arrangement direction of the terminal fittings 10). It has vertically installed rectangular flat first vertical walls 33, 33 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6). Further, in the second hood portion 21B, the other second opposing wall 21c is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape (FIGS. 1 and 4). The second hood portion 21B is attached to each side of the other second opposing wall 21c perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 30a (the arrangement direction of the terminal fittings 10). It has second standing walls 43, 43 in the form of rectangular flat plates that are vertically installed (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6).

In this hood 21, when the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are in the assembled position, the vertical sides of the first vertical wall 33 and the second vertical wall 43 face each other in the assembly direction. In addition, the sides of the other first standing wall 33 and the other second standing wall 43 in the vertical direction are arranged to face each other in the assembly direction (FIGS. 1 and 3). In this hood 21, when the assembly is completed, one first standing wall 33 and one second standing wall 43 are arranged on the same plane, and one first standing wall 33 and one second standing wall 43 are arranged on the same plane. 43 forms one first opposing wall 21b having a rectangular flat plate shape. Similarly, in this hood 21, when the assembly is completed, the other first standing wall 33 and the other second standing wall 43 are arranged on the same plane. The other second standing wall 43 forms the other first opposing wall 21b having a rectangular flat plate shape.

In this hood 21, there is a space surrounded by one second opposing wall 21c and two first standing walls 33, 33 in the first hood part 21A, and a space surrounded by the other second opposing wall 21c and two in the second hood part 21B. A rectangular parallelepiped-shaped fitting chamber 21a is formed by a space surrounded by two second vertical walls 43, 43 (FIG. 1).

In the mating connector 501, the mating housing 520 and the mating terminal fittings 510 inside the mating housing 520 are inserted into the insertion chamber 21a through the insertion opening 21a ₁ (FIGS. 1 and 7).

The counterpart housing 520 shown here is provided with a terminal holding portion 521 that holds a plurality of counterpart terminal fittings 510 and is fitted into the fitting chamber 21a (FIGS. 7 to 9). In the terminal holding portion 521, a terminal accommodating chamber 520a for accommodating and holding the mating terminal fitting 510 is provided for each mating terminal fitting 510 (FIG. 9). In this terminal holding portion 521, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 520a are arranged at approximately equal intervals in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction. The terminal holding portion 521 shown here has a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose longitudinal direction is the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 520a.

This connector 1 is provided with a locking mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a "connector locking mechanism") 22 between it and a mating connector 501 to hold them in the fully fitted position. Specifically, the housing 20 has a locking part (hereinafter referred to as "first connector locking part") 22a (FIGS. 1 and 7). The mating housing 520 can be locked to the first connector locking portion 22a at the complete fitting position with the housing 20, and by locking the first connector locking portion 22a, the housing 20 and the housing 20 can be locked. It has a locking part (hereinafter referred to as "second connector locking part") 522 that can hold the mating housing 520 in the fully fitted position (FIGS. 7 to 9).

Here, the second connector locking portion 522 is formed as a claw-shaped protrusion, and the first connector locking portion 22a is a piece-shaped piece that is hooked and locked on the claw-shaped second connector locking portion 522. It is formed as one piece. The second connector locking portion 522 is provided on one outer wall surface 521a located in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the terminal holding portion 521 and the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 520a (the arrangement direction of the mating terminal fittings 510). (Figures 7 and 9).

The outer wall surface 521a is arranged to face the inner wall surface of the other second opposing wall 21c of the second hood portion 21B of the cover 40 at the fitting completion position. Therefore, the first connector locking portion 22a is provided on the cover 40. The first connector locking portion 22a shown here is provided on the cover 40 via a pair of flexible lock arm portions (hereinafter referred to as "second lock arm portions") 22b, 22b (FIG. 1). and Figure 7).

In the second lock arm portion 22b, the first connector locking portion 22a is provided at one end thereof, and the other end is connected to the cover main wall 41a of the cover main body 41 (FIG. 1). The pair of second lock arm parts 22b, 22b are arm parts that connect the cover main wall 41a and the first connector locking part 22a with a space between them. The pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b brings the first connector locking portion 22a and the second connector locking portion 522 into contact when the connectors are mated and connected, and then the first connector locking portion 22a contacts the second connector locking portion 522. The first connector locking portion 22a is bent by the force received from the second connector locking portion 522 so that the housing 20 and the other housing 520 reach the mating completion position by climbing over the second connector locking portion 522. .

The second connector locking portion 522 is located within a space surrounded by the first connector locking portion 22a and the pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b when the housing 20 and the mating housing 520 are in the mating completion position. (Figure 8). Therefore, a first connector locking portion 22a and a pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b are arranged on the other second opposing wall 21c of the second hood portion 21B, and a second A notch 21c1 is provided for inserting the connector locking portion 522 (FIGS. ₁ and 7). In the notch 21c ₁ , the first connector locking portion 22a is arranged on the insertion opening _21a1 side of the second hood portion 21B, and the first connector locking portion 22a is directed toward the cover main wall 41a of the cover main body 41. A pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b are extended. The pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b are connected to the cover main wall 41a at their extended ends.

In this connector locking mechanism 22, when the connector 1 and the mating connector 501 are mated and connected, the first connector locking part 22a and the second connector locking part 522 are brought into contact with each other, and the second connector locking part 522 is The first connector locking portion 22a receiving the force causes the pair of second locking arm portions 22b, 22b to bend. Between the housing 20 and the counterpart housing 520, when the first connector locking portion 22a climbs over the second connector locking portion 522, the mating is completed, and the pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b are no longer bent. be done. At this time, the first connector locking portion 22a and the second connector locking portion 522 are arranged to lock the movement of the connector 1 and the mating connector 501 in the removal direction opposite to the fitting direction.

In addition, the cover 40 is provided in the fitting direction and the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 30a in order to eliminate the lockable state of the first connector locking part 22a and the second connector locking part 522 at the mating completion position. (the arrangement direction of the terminal fittings 10), and the first connector locking portion 22a is moved from the second connector locking portion 522 by pushing the operation portion 22c. A pair of lock release arm portions 22d, 22d that can be pulled apart are provided (FIGS. 1 and 7). The cover main body 41 has a recess 41c formed by offsetting a part of the cover main wall 41a toward the terminal holding part 31 side of the housing main body 30 (FIGS. 1 and 7). This recess 41c is a space for accommodating the operating section 22c, and communicates with the notch _21c1 of the second hood section 21B. Further, the pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b are connected to a portion of the cover main wall 41a that is offset toward the terminal holding portion 31 side (that is, the bottom wall of the recess portion 41c). Note that the terminal holding portion 31 is formed with a recess 31c for accommodating the recess 41c (FIG. 4).

One end of the lock release arm section 22d is connected to one second lock arm section 22b side of the first connector locking section 22a, and the other end is connected to the operating section 22c (FIGS. 1 and 7). The other lock release arm portion 22d has one end connected to the other second lock arm portion 22b side of the first connector locking portion 22a, and the other end connected to the operating portion 22c (FIGS. 1 and 7). Therefore, when the housing 20 and the mating housing 520 are in the mating completion position, the second connector locking portion 522 is located in a space surrounded by the first connector locking portion 22a and the pair of lock release arm portions 22d, 22d. (Fig. 8). The pair of lock release arm parts 22d, 22d lift the first connector locking part 22a while bending the pair of second lock arm parts 22b, 22b in response to a pushing operation on the operation part 22c. The connector locking portion 22a is separated from the second connector locking portion 522.

By the way, since the housing 20 has a two-part structure consisting of the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 as described above, various tolerance variations are provided in order to ensure ease of assembly between the housing body 30 and the cover 40. In other words, the housing 20 allows looseness between the housing body 30 and the cover 40 at least until the assembly of the housing body 30 and the cover 40 is completed due to various tolerance variations. In this housing 20, a backlash corresponding to the tolerance variation is also provided between the main body locking part 32 and the cover locking part 42a in the housing lock mechanism 42, and when the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled, At the completion position, a gap is provided between the main body locking portion 32 and the cover locking portion 42a.

However, in the connector 1, if the looseness remains between the housing body 30 and the cover 40 after assembly, for example, the mating connector 501 may be misaligned in the fitting chamber 21a when the connector is mated and connected. This looseness can be a factor that reduces the workability of connector fitting and connection. In addition, in this connector 1, if looseness remains between the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 after assembly, the first connector locking portion 22a and the second The lockable area between the connector locking portion 522 (in other words, it indicates the degree of engagement between the first connector locking portion 22a and the second connector locking portion 522 at the mating completion position). , the contact area therebetween) becomes narrower, and looseness may cause a decrease in the holding force of the connector locking mechanism 22.

Here, in this connector 1, if the gap between the main body locking part 32 and the cover locking part 42a at the assembly completion position of the housing locking mechanism 42 is narrowed, the housing body 30 and the cover 40 may play. The amount can be reduced. However, in the housing 20, the housing lock mechanism 42 (main body locking part 32, cover locking part 42a) is provided in the terminal holding part 31 of the housing body 30 and the cover main body 41 of the cover 40, and the connector lock A pair of second lock arm portions 22b, 22b of the mechanism 22 are connected to the cover main body 41. Therefore, in this connector 1, when the gap between the main body locking part 32 and the cover locking part 42a is narrowed at the assembly completion position, when the connector is mated and connected, the first connector lock in the abutting state Since the force generated between the stop portion 22a and the second connector lock portion 522 increases, the insertion force at the housing lock mechanism 42 increases.

Therefore, the housing 20 is provided with a rattling suppression mechanism 50 that suppresses rattling between the housing body 30 and the cover 40 after assembly (FIGS. 1 to 8). Specifically, the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 have a pair of cantilevered flexible arms 51, 51 provided on one of them, and a pair of flexible arms 51, 51 provided on the other of them, and a pair of flexible arms 51, 51 provided on the other thereof, and a position where the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled. and a flexible arm accommodation groove 52 in which a pair of flexible arms 51, 51 are accommodated (FIGS. 1 to 6). The flexible arm receiving groove 52 has an insertion opening 52a through which the pair of flexible arms 51, 51 are inserted from the free ends 51a, 51a along the direction of assembly of the housing body 30 and the cover 40 from one side to the other. (Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6).

For example, the pair of flexible arms 51, 51 are provided on one of the first hood portion 21A of the housing body 30 and the second hood portion 21B of the cover 40. In this case, the flexible arm housing groove 52 is provided in the other of the first hood part 21A and the second hood part 21B.

Here, the housing body 30 is provided with a flexible arm receiving groove 52, and the cover 40 is provided with a pair of flexible arms 51, 51 (FIGS. 1 to 7). Furthermore, here, a flexible arm accommodation groove 52 is provided in the first hood portion 21A of the housing body 30, and a pair of flexible arms 51, 51 are provided in the second hood portion 21B of the cover 40 (see FIGS. 7). In the housing 20 shown here, the flexible arm housing grooves 52 are provided in the pair of first vertical walls 33, 33 in the first hood part 21A, and the flexible arm housing grooves 52 are provided in the pair of second vertical walls 43, 43 in the second hood part 21B. A pair of flexible arms 51, 51 are provided respectively.

The flexible arm accommodating groove 52 is provided at a side of the first vertical wall 33 facing the side of the second vertical wall 43 at a position where the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled (FIGS. 1 to 7). The flexible arm accommodation groove 52 shown here is formed as a notch groove cut out from the side of the first vertical wall 33 toward one of the second opposing walls 21c. Further, the pair of flexible arms 51, 51 are provided on the side of the second vertical wall 43 that is opposite to the side of the first vertical wall 33 at the completion position of the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 (FIGS. 7). The pair of flexible arms 51, 51 shown here protrude from the sides of the second standing wall 43 toward the opposite side to the other second opposing wall 21c.

The pair of flexible arms 51, 51 can each be elastically deformed in the direction of narrowing the distance between them, and the elastic force associated with the elastic deformation is applied to the flexible arms when the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are completely assembled. A pair of opposing walls 52b, 52b in the accommodation groove 52 are each acted upon (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6). In the housing 20, the elastic force from the pair of flexible arms 51, 51 to the respective opposing walls 52b, 52b, and the elastic force from the pair of opposing walls 52b, 52b that received this elastic force, to the respective flexible arms 51. , 51, thereby suppressing rattling between the housing body 30 and the cover 40.

A pair of opposing walls 52b, 52b are groove side walls of the flexible arm accommodation groove 52 as a notch groove (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6). The pair of opposing walls 52b, 52b receives a resilient force from the respective flexible arms 51, 51 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the housing body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled.

The pair of opposing walls 52b, 52b shown here have a symmetrical shape (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6). The pair of opposing walls 52b, 52b are inclined with respect to the direction in which the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled, and are brought into contact with the flexible arm 51 at the assembly completion position to prevent the resilient arm 51 from rebounding. Each of the contact surfaces 52b ₁ and 52b ₁ is an inclined surface that receives a force, and the distance on the insertion port 52a side is narrower than the distance on the groove bottom 52c side (FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). and Figure 6). As a result, the pair of flexible arms 51, 51 each apply a resilient force in a direction intersecting the direction in which the housing body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled, and in a direction in which they are removed, which is opposite to the direction in which the housing body 30 and the cover 40 are assembled. It acts on the opposing walls 52b, 52b. This rattling suppression mechanism 50 uses its elastic force to suppress rattling in the removal direction.

In addition, the pair of opposing walls 52b, 52b shown here have tapered surfaces 52b2, 52b2 at their respective ends on the insertion port 52a side (closer to the insertion port _52a than the contact surfaces _52b1 , _{52b1 )} . (Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6). The pair of tapered surfaces 52b ₂ and 52b ₂ are sloped surfaces for improving the workability of inserting the pair of opposing walls 52b and 52b from the insertion port 52a. They are widening the distance between them.

Here, the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 can suppress rattling in the assembly direction at the butt portion by, for example, abutting the side portions of the first vertical wall 33 and the second vertical wall 43 in the opposing arrangement direction. It may be increased. Further, in the case where there is no such butt between the sides, for example, the pair of flexible arms 51, 51 have their free ends 51a, 51a inserted into the flexible arm accommodation groove 52 at the assembly completion position of the housing body 30 and the cover 40. may be brought into contact with the groove bottoms 52c, respectively. That is, in the housing 20, the contact state between the free ends 51a, 51a and the groove bottom 52c may be used to enhance the effect of suppressing rattling in the assembly direction of the housing body 30 and the cover 40.

As described above, in the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the backlash suppressing mechanism 50 (the pair of flexible arms 51, 51, the flexible arm accommodating groove 52) prevents backlash between the housing body 30 and the cover 40 after assembly. It is possible to suppress sticking.

Therefore, in this connector 1, the effect of suppressing rattling between the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 after assembly can suppress changes in the size of the fitting chamber 21a in the hood 21 of the housing 20, so that when the connector is mated and connected, Misalignment of the mating connector 501 within the fitting chamber 21a is suppressed. Therefore, this connector 1 can improve the workability of connector fitting and connection. In particular, this connector 1 has a rattling suppression mechanism 50 (a pair of flexible arms 51, 51, a flexible arm accommodation groove 52) in the hood 21, so that the effect of suppressing changes in the physique of the insertion chamber 21a is high. Therefore, the workability of connector fitting connection becomes higher. In other words, since this connector 1 is provided with a backlash suppression mechanism 50 (a pair of flexible arms 51, 51, a flexible arm accommodation groove 52) in the hood 21, this playback suppression mechanism 50 is the first one in the hood 21. It also serves as a mechanism for suppressing separation between the hood part 21A and the second hood part 21B (in other words, a mechanism for suppressing the opening of the hood 21).

In addition, in this connector 1, due to the effect of suppressing rattling between the housing main body 30 and the cover 40 after assembly, the first connector locking portion 22a and the second connector locking portion 522 of the connector locking mechanism 22 are connected at the mating completion position. Since the connectors can be brought into contact over a wide area as designed, a reduction in the holding force in the connector locking mechanism 22 can be suppressed.

In addition, in this connector 1, due to the effect of suppressing rattling between the housing body 30 and the cover 40 after assembly, the gap between the main body locking portion 32 and the cover locking portion 42a at the assembly completion position of the housing locking mechanism 42 is reduced. Since there is no need to narrow the gap, an increase in insertion force in the housing lock mechanism 42 can be suppressed.

1 Connector 10 Terminal fitting 20 Housing 21 Hood 21A First hood portion 21B Second hood portion 21a Fitting chamber 21b First opposing wall 21c Second opposing wall 30 Housing body 32 Main body locking portion 40 Cover 42a Cover locking portion 51 Flexible Arm 51a Free end 52 Flexible arm accommodation groove 52a Insertion port 52b Opposing wall 52b ₁ Contact surface 52c Groove bottom 501 Mate connector

Claims (5)

terminal fittings,
a housing in which the terminal fitting is housed;
Equipped with
The housing includes a housing body that holds the terminal fitting in a protruding state, and a cover that is assembled to the housing body and surrounds a portion of the terminal fitting that protrudes from the housing body,
The housing main body has a main body locking part,
The cover can be locked to the main body locking portion at a position where the cover is assembled with the housing main body, and the housing main body and the cover can be locked to the main body locking portion when the housing body and the cover are assembled together. It has a cover locking part that can be held in the completed position,
The housing main body and the cover include a pair of cantilevered flexible arms provided on one of them, and a flexible arm provided on the other of them to accommodate the pair of flexible arms at the assembly completion position. comprising a housing groove;
The pair of flexible arms are each capable of elastic deformation in a direction that narrows the distance between them, and the elastic force accompanying the elastic deformation is applied to the pair of opposing walls in the flexible arm housing groove at the assembly completion position. A connector characterized in that it acts on each of the following. The flexible arm receiving groove has an insertion opening into which the pair of flexible arms are inserted from the free end along the assembly direction from the one of the housing body and the cover to the other,
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pair of opposing walls in the flexible arm housing groove receive the resilient force in a direction perpendicular to the assembly direction from each of the flexible arms. The pair of opposing walls in the flexible arm housing groove are inclined with respect to the assembly direction and are brought into contact with the flexible arm at the assembly completion position to absorb the elastic force from the flexible arm. 3. The connector according to claim 2, each having a contact surface that is an inclined surface that receives the contact, and the distance between the insertion ports is narrower than the distance between the groove bottoms. 4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the pair of flexible arms have their free ends abutting the bottoms of the flexible arm housing grooves at the assembly completion position. The housing has a cylindrical hood provided with a fitting chamber into which a mating connector is fitted;
The hood has a two-part structure including a first hood part provided on the housing body and a second hood part provided on the cover, and the first hood part and the second hood part are connected to the housing body and the second hood part. The cover is assembled and formed at the completed position,
The pair of flexible arms are provided on one of the first hood part and the second hood part,
4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the flexible arm housing groove is provided in the other of the first hood part and the second hood part.

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