JP4375244B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector having a fitting detection function.

There is a connector described in Patent Document 1 as a connector having a fitting detection function. This is because the detection member is attached to the first housing so as to be relatively movable, and when the first housing and the second housing are half-fitted, the detection member is restricted from moving from the standby position to the detection position. In some cases, the detection member is allowed to move from the standby position to the detection position when it reaches the combined state. According to this connector, the fitting state of both housings can be detected depending on whether or not the detection member can be moved from the standby position to the detection position.
JP 2004-063090 A

In the connector, as a means for holding the detection member in the standby position when both housings are not fitted, a structure in which the locking portion of the bending locking piece formed on the detection member is brought into contact with the locking projection of the lock arm. However, since the bending locking piece can be elastically bent in the direction to disengage the locking portion from the locking projection, the bending locking piece is bent when a strong pushing force is applied to the detection member. There is a concern that the piece is elastically bent, the locking portion is dissociated from the locking protrusion, and the detection member moves to the detection position.
The present invention has been completed based on the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the detection member from moving to the detection position when both housings are not fitted.

The invention 請 Motomeko 1, the first housing, together with the non-elastic deflection deflectable locking arm from the position to the unlocked position is provided in a posture facing the front-rear direction, with respect to the lock arm, the lock arm possible and have been detected member movement is mounted between the standby position and the detection position as along, in the first housing and the second housing half-fitted state, the lock arm to the unlocked position In addition to being elastically bent, when the detection member is restricted from moving from the standby position to the detection position, and the first housing and the second housing are properly fitted, the lock arm is elastically restored and the second housing is restored. The housings are locked in the fitted state by being engaged with each other, and the detection member is allowed to move from the standby position to the detection position. In the connector, the lock arm and the second housing are brought into contact with each other when the two housings are properly fitted and the lock arm is elastically restored, so that the lock arm is moved more than the non-deflection position. provided abutments retain in front of the locked position, the sensing member is Rutotomoni mounted so as to be displaceable integrally with the lock arm, the sensing member is resilient with respect to the lock arm deflection resilient locking pieces from the relative displacement is restricted portion of the direction becomes a shape that extends like a cantilever forward, concave portion is formed on an outer surface of said first housing, said sensing member wherein the portion restricting relative displacement of the resilient deforming direction to the lock arm, outward from the outer surface of the first housing in a state where the detecting member is at the standby position in When the restriction portion is provided and the lock arm is in the lock position, the restriction portion is allowed to move from the standby position to the detection position while entering the recess, and the lock arm is When in the non-deflection position, the restricting portion abuts against the outer surface of the first housing, so that the movement of the detection member to the detection position is restricted , and the elastic locking piece of the detection member And the locking arm is provided with locking means capable of restricting movement of the detection member from the standby position to the detection position by locking the two housings in an unfitted state, and the detection member The release of releasing the locking by the locking means by engaging the elastic locking piece and the second housing with each other in a state where both the housings are properly fitted. And the releasing means is set on the distal end side of the elastic locking piece of the detection member, and the locking means is set on the proximal end side of the elastic locking piece of the detection member, respectively. It has the characteristics in that place.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector described in claim 1, regular fitted when said disengaging the two housings are in, the sensing member, the lock arm in a state where the back to the standby position from the detection position The detection member is provided with a lock release operation portion that protrudes outward from the outer edge of the lock arm in a state where the detection member is in the standby position. It is characterized in that the lock arm is displaced in the unlocking direction by pushing the unlocking operation part.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first or second aspect , in a state where the detection member is in a detection position, the detection member is positioned flush with an outer surface of the first housing or It is characterized in that it is arranged at a position inside the outer surface.

<Invention of Claim 1>
The restricting portion that restricts the movement of the detection member from the standby position to the detection position is provided in a region of the detection member in which relative displacement in the elastic bending direction with respect to the lock arm is restricted. As long as the pressing force in the detection position direction acts on the detection member as long as it is held at the bending position, the restricting portion is kept in contact with the outer surface of the first housing, and the detection member moves to the detection position. Is reliably prevented.
Further, when the two housings are properly fitted, the contact portions elastically contact each other before the lock arm reaches the non-deflection position, that is, before the elastic restoring force accumulated in the lock arm disappears, A collision sound is generated. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not both housings are properly fitted based on the presence or absence of the occurrence of a collision sound between the contact portions.

Even when the housings are not fitted, the detection member is held at the standby position by the locking action of the locking means even if the lock arm is displaced to the locked position and the restricting portion corresponds to the recess. Can be kept.

<Invention of Claim 2 >
The lock arm is displaced in the unlocking direction by pushing the unlocking operation part provided on the detection member. This unlocking operation part is positioned more than the outer edge of the lock arm when the detection member is in the standby position. Since it is configured to protrude outward, the size of the unlocking operation portion and the protruding dimension from the lock arm do not have to be restricted by the size of the lock arm. Therefore, even if the lock arm is downsized, it is possible to secure a large operable area in the unlock operation section and improve the unlock operation.

<Invention of Claim 3 >
In the state where both housings are fitted, the detection member is held at the detection position. However, in the detection position, the detection member does not protrude outward from the outer surface of the first housing. The overall size of the connector can be reduced.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment is provided with a function of detecting whether or not the two housings 10 and 40 are properly fitted while the first housing 10 and the second housing 40 are fitted and detached.
The first connector is made of synthetic resin and has a square block shape as a whole. A plurality of first terminal fittings (not shown) are inserted into the first housing 10 from the rear, and the electric wires 11 fixed to the respective first terminal fittings are led out from the rear end face 10R of the first housing 10 to the rear outside. Yes. A lock arm 12 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the first housing 10. The lock arm 12 is connected to the upper surface of the first housing 10 via the leg portion 13 at the front end thereof, and extends rearwardly along the upper surface of the first housing 10 in a cantilevered manner. With the portion 13 as a fulcrum, it can be elastically bent while tilting in the vertical direction. The lock arm 12 takes a posture substantially parallel to the upper surface of the first housing 10 in a free state in which the lock arm 12 is not elastically bent. At this time, the lock arm 12 is in a non-deflection position. Further, the position where the lock arm 12 is elastically bent slightly downward from the non-deflection position is referred to as a lock position. The lock protrusion 12 is elastically bent further downward than the lock position, and will be described later. The position where the locking is released is called a lock releasing position.

  A lock protrusion 14 is formed on the upper surface of the lock arm 12 so as to protrude upward from a substantially central position in the front-rear direction. The upper surface of the lock protrusion 14 and a local region slightly behind the lock protrusion 14 on the upper surface of the lock arm 12 are contact portions 15. On the left and right outer surfaces of the lock arm 12, a pair of front stop portions 16 that are forward of guide ribs 17, which will be described later, and protrude outward from positions behind the leg portions 13 (which is a constituent feature of the present invention). (Locking means) is formed.

  A pair of guide ribs 17 projecting outward from the left and right side edges are formed at the extended end of the lock arm 12, that is, the rear end (free end). The guide rib 17 is disposed at a position higher than the upper surface of the lock arm 12. The rear end edge of the lock arm 12 is located in front of the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10, but the guide rib 17 protrudes further than the rear end of the lock arm 12, and the rear end of the guide rib 17 is It is disposed at substantially the same position as the first housing 10 in the front-rear direction. Further, on the upper surfaces of both guide ribs 17, a retaining portion 18 that protrudes upward from a position further rearward than the rear end of the lock arm 12 is formed.

  Further, the first housing 10 is formed with a pair of side walls 19 positioned so as to sandwich the rear end portion of the lock arm 12 from the left and right sides from the rear end portion of the upper surface, and the upper end edges of the both side walls 19 are in the form of a horizontal plate. It is connected by the protection part 20 which makes. The lock arm 12 and the guide rib 17 are elastically bent in the vertical direction in a bending space between the lower surface of the protection unit 20 and the upper surface of the first housing 10. Further, the left and right side walls 19 are each formed with a recess 21 that is formed by notching the rear end portion of the inner surface and that opens to the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10. The recess 21 is arranged in a region behind the protection unit 20. In addition, the formation area of the recessed part 21 in the side wall 19 has a form protruding outward.

  A detection member 30 is attached to the lock arm 12. The detection member 30 is made of synthetic resin, and includes a lock release operation unit 31 (a region in which relative displacement in the elastic bending direction is restricted with respect to the lock arm of the detection member as a constituent element of the present invention) and a pair of left and right The elastic locking piece 35 is integrally formed. The unlocking operation unit 31 has a generally flat rectangular block shape as a whole, and a pair of left and right guide grooves 32 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the lower surface thereof. The guide grooves 32 are formed with retaining protrusions 33 that protrude downward. The unlocking operation portion 31 is formed with a pair of restricting portions 34 that protrude outward from the left and right outer surfaces. The upper surface of the restricting portion 34 is at a position lower than the upper surface of the unlocking operation portion 31, the lower surface of the restricting portion 34 is higher than the lower surface of the unlocking operation portion 31, and the front surface of the restricting portion 34 is the unlocking operation portion. The rear surface of the restricting portion 34 is substantially flush with the rear surface of the unlocking operation portion 31.

  The elastic locking pieces 35 are integrally formed with the detection member 30 in a form that cantilevered forward from both left and right end portions (positions outside the guide grooves 32) on the lower surface of the unlocking operation portion 31. ing. A part of the rear end portion (base end portion) of the elastic locking piece 35 faces the opening region on the lower surface side of the guide groove 32, and the rear end portion of the elastic locking piece 35 is the guide rib 17 of the lock arm 12. It faces the lower surface. The elastic locking piece 35 is formed with a locking protrusion 36 (release means which is a constituent of the present invention) protruding downward from its front end (free end). Similarly, in the position behind the locking protrusion 36 in the elastic locking piece 35 (a position slightly ahead of the center in the front-rear direction of the elastic locking piece 35), a front stop protrusion 37 that protrudes downward (configuration of the present invention). The locking means, which is a requirement, is formed. In the width direction (left-right direction), the locking protrusion 36 and the retaining protrusion 33 are arranged at positions shifted from each other. Further, since the thickness dimension (vertical dimension) and the width dimension (horizontal dimension) of the elastic locking piece 35 are smaller than the thickness dimension and the width dimension of the lock arm 12, the elastic locking piece 35 and the lock arm 12 are the same. Regarding the elastic restoring force when elastically bent by the amount, the elastic restoring force of the elastic locking piece 35 is weaker than the elastic restoring force of the lock arm 12.

  The detection member 30 is assembled to the lock arm 12 from the front. When assembling, the guide groove 32 is fitted into the guide rib 17. In the assembling process, the front stop protrusion 37 interferes with the front stop portion 16, so that the elastic locking piece 35 is elastically displaced upward so as to tilt relative to the lock arm 12 with the rear end portion as a fulcrum. To do. When the retaining projection 33 reaches the retaining portion 18 from the front (that is, the detection member 30 is in the standby position), the front retaining projection 37 passes through the front retaining portion 16. The elastic locking piece 35 is elastically restored, and the front stop protrusion 37 is locked to the front stop portion 16 from the rear. Further, the detection member 30 is attached to the lock arm 12 when the guide rib 17 and the guide groove 32 are fitted and the rear end portion of the elastic locking piece 35 faces the lower surface of the guide rib 17 at the opening of the guide groove 32. On the other hand, relative displacement in the front-rear direction is allowed and the relative displacement in the vertical and horizontal directions is regulated (guided).

  In the state in which the detection member 30 is in the standby position, the detection member 30 is locked to the lock arm 12 by the engagement between the retaining protrusion 33 and the retaining portion 18 and the engagement between the front retaining protrusion 37 and the front retaining portion 16. Thus, the relative displacement in the front-rear direction is maintained in a regulated state. In the standby position, the upper surface of the unlocking operation unit 31 is positioned behind the protection unit 20 over almost the entire area, and the finger can be pressed against the unlocking operation unit 31 from above. ing. Further, the rear end edges of the unlocking operation portion 31 and the restricting portion 34 are located further rearward (outward) than the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10 (the outer surface that is a constituent feature of the present invention). Further, the substantially second half portion of the unlocking operation unit 31 is configured to protrude rearward (outward) from the rear end edge (outer edge) of the lock arm 12. The detection member 30 is guided by the fitting of the guide rib 17 and the guide groove 32, and is moved back and forth between the standby position and the detection position in front of the lock arm 12 (the fitting of the two housings 10 and 40). It can be slid in a direction parallel to the mating / separating direction.

  Further, in a state where the detection member 30 is in the standby position and the lock arm 12 is in the non-deflection position where it is not elastically bent (that is, in a state where both the housings 10 and 40 are not fitted or detached), as shown in FIG. In addition, the restricting portion 34 is disposed at a position corresponding to the region above the recess 21 in the rear end surface 10 </ b> R of the first housing 10. Similarly, when the detection member 30 is in the standby position and the lock arm 12 is in the lock position, as shown in FIG. 15, the restriction portion 34 is at a height corresponding to the concave portion 21, that is, the detection member 30 moves to the detection position side. The restricting portion 34 is arranged at a height at which the restricting portion 34 can enter the recess 21 when moved. Furthermore, when the detection member 30 is in the standby position and the lock arm 12 is in the unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 14, the restricting portion 34 has a region below the recess 21 in the rear end surface 10 </ b> R of the first housing 10. It is placed in the corresponding position.

  The second housing 40 includes a lateral rectangular hood portion 41 that opens forward, and a rear wall 42 that closes the rear end surface of the hood portion 41, and a plurality of second terminal fittings 43 are attached to the second housing 40. ing. The second terminal fitting 43 has a shape that is elongated and bent in an L shape, and includes a horizontal portion 43H and a vertical portion 43V extending downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion 43H. The second terminal fitting 43 is fixed to the second housing 40 with the horizontal portion 43H passing through the rear wall 42 from the rear and the front end portion of the horizontal portion 43H being accommodated in the hood portion 41. Note that the vertical portion 43 </ b> V of the second terminal fitting 43 is located on the rear rear side of the second housing 40.

  The second housing 40 is formed with a lock portion 44 that protrudes downward from the front edge of the upper surface wall of the hood portion 41. A local region slightly behind the lock portion 44 on the lower surface of the lock portion 44 and the lower surface of the upper surface wall of the hood portion 41 is a contact portion 45. Similarly, the second housing 40 is formed with a pair of left and right release portions 46 that are elongated in a cantilevered manner forward from the rear wall 42 in the hood portion 41. The release means) which is a constituent element of the invention is formed. Further, the second housing 40 is formed with a pair of left and right reinforcing ribs 48 that project downward from the upper surface wall of the hood portion 41 and extend in the front-rear direction. The release portion 46 and the release protrusion 47 are connected. That is, the release portion 46 and the release protrusion 47 are held in a state in which relative displacement is restricted with respect to the upper surface wall of the hood portion 41 via the reinforcing rib 48.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In the state where the detection member 30 is held at the standby position by the engagement of the front stop protrusion 37 and the front stop portion 16 in the first housing 10 and the housings 10 and 40 are not fitted, the lock arm 12 is in a non-deflection position, and the restriction part 34 is located above the recess 21. Therefore, even if a strong pushing force acts on the detection member 30 from the rear, immediately after the detection member 30 starts moving to the detection position side, the restricting portion 34 hits the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10, Further movement of the detection member 30 is restricted.

  Further, when the housings 10 and 40 are fitted together, the first housing 10 is fitted into the hood portion 41 with the detection member 30 held at the standby position as shown in FIG. In the fitting process, the lock projection 14 interferes with the lock portion 44, and when the fitting further proceeds from this state, the lock arm 12 is locked while the lock projection 14 sinks under the lock portion 44 as shown in the figure. It passes through the position and is elastically displaced further to the lower unlock position. At this time, the detection member 30 is displaced downward integrally with the lock arm 12, and the front stop protrusion 37 and the front stop portion 16 remain locked, so the detection member 30 moves from the standby position to the detection position. I can't do it. Further, since the restricting portion 34 is displaced below the recess 21, even if the locking of the front stop protrusion 37 and the front stop portion 16 is released, the restricting portion 34 is not connected to the rear end surface 10 </ b> R (side wall 19) of the first housing 10. The displacement of the detection member 30 to the detection position is restricted.

  Further, when the fitting of both the housings 10 and 40 proceeds, as shown in FIG. 14, the elastic locking piece remains in a state where the lock arm 12 is elastically bent downward due to the interference between the lock projection 14 and the lock portion 44. The locking protrusion 36 at the front end of the 35 abuts on the upper surface of the release protrusion 47 of the second housing 40, and the downward displacement of the front end portion of the elastic locking piece 35 is restricted. At this time, the height of the locking protrusion 36 is higher than that in the state where the lock arm 12 is not elastically bent (the state where the lock arm 12 is in the non-deflection position).

  Immediately after this, when both the housings 10 and 40 reach the proper fitting state and the lock projection 14 passes through the lock portion 44, the lock arm 12 is elastically restored upward. At this time, before the lock arm 12 reaches the non-deflection position (free state), that is, before the elastic restoring force stored in the lock arm 12 disappears, the abutment portion 15 of the lock arm 12 moves to the second housing 40. The collision with the abutting portion 45 is elastically and vigorously from below, and a collision sound is generated by the collision between the abutting portions 15 and 45. Further, the abutment between the abutment portions 15 and 45 restricts the elastic return of the lock arm 12 further upward. As shown in FIG. 15, the lock arm 12 is held at the lock position and the lock arm 12 is locked. When the protrusion 14 is engaged with the lock portion 44, the housings 10 and 40 are locked in a state in which the detachment is restricted. Further, as the unlocking operation unit 31 is displaced upward to the lock position integrally with the lock arm 12, the restriction unit 34 is displaced to a height corresponding to the recess 21, and the front of the detection member 30 (detection position). Displacement to is allowed.

  On the other hand, with respect to the elastic locking piece 35 of the detection member 30, the rear end portion of the elastic locking piece 35, that is, the unlocking operation portion, with the front end portion of the elastic locking piece 35 riding on the release protrusion 47. 31 is integrated with the lock arm 12 and displaced backward, but the front end of the elastic locking piece 35 is in a state before the housings 10 and 40 are fitted (the lock arm 12 is in a non-deflection position). Therefore, the elastic locking piece 35 is elastically deformed so as to take an oblique posture in which the front is raised as compared with the state before the housings 10 and 40 are fitted together. Along with the elastic deformation of the elastic locking piece 35, the front stop protrusion 37 on the lower surface of the elastic lock piece 35 is displaced upward relative to the front stop portion 16, and the front stop protrusion 37 and the front stop portion 16 are displaced. The front stop protrusion 37 is positioned at a height corresponding to the tapered surface on the rear end side of the front stop portion 16. That is, the forward displacement restriction (relative movement toward the detection position) of the detection member 30 due to the engagement between the front stop protrusion 37 and the front stop is released.

  Thereafter, the finger is applied to the unlocking operation unit 31 and the detection member 30 is pushed forward. Then, the front stop protrusion 37 rides on the front stop 16 due to the inclination of the tapered surface of the front stop 16, and the detection member 30 is displaced forward while being guided by the fitting of the guide groove 32 and the guide rib 17. During this time, the locking projection 36 slides on the upper surface of the release projection 47. When the detection member 30 reaches the detection position, as shown in FIG. 16, the locking projection 36 passes through the release projection 47, the elastic locking piece 35 is elastically returned downward, and the locking projection 36 is released. The detection member 30 is held at the detection position by being locked to the protrusion 47 and this locking action. Further, the restricting portion 34 enters the recess 21, and the rear surfaces of the unlocking operation portion 31 and the restricting portion 34, that is, the rear end surface of the detection member 30, from the rear end surface 10 R of the first housing 10 (side wall 19) in the front-rear direction. Is also located forward.

  In the state in which the detection member 30 is in the detection position, a substantially first half region of the upper surface of the unlocking operation unit 31 is hidden under the protection unit 20, so the unlocking operation unit 31 is pushed from above to perform the unlocking operation (the lock arm 12 is It is difficult to elastically bend in the unlocking direction to disengage the lock protrusion 14 from the lock portion 44). Even if the rear edge of the unlocking operation part 31 can be pushed with a finger, the restricting part 34 can be seen from above with respect to the inner surface of the recess 21 when the unlocking operation part 31 is slightly displaced downward. By abutting, further downward pressing operation (operation for elastically bending the lock arm 12 downward) is restricted, and the locked state of the lock protrusion 14 and the lock portion 44, that is, the locked state is maintained.

  When the two housings 10 and 40 are detached from this locked state, first, the unlocking operation unit 31 is grasped with a finger, and the detection member 30 is pulled back from the detection position to the standby position to obtain the state shown in FIG. At this time, the locking projection 36 can be smoothly dissociated from the release projection 47 by the tapered surface of the release projection 47. In this state, since the restricting portion 34 is in a position deviated rearward with respect to the recess 21, the detection member 30 and the lock arm 12 are allowed to be displaced downward. After the detection member 30 is moved to the standby position, the lock arm 12 is elastically displaced to the lower unlock position by pushing the unlock operation portion 31 with a finger from above, and the lock protrusion 14 is disengaged from the lock portion 44. Let it be unlocked. After that, both the housings 10 and 40 may be pulled apart while keeping the unlocked state. In the process of detaching both the housings 10 and 40, the locking projection 36 and the release projection 47 are dissociated, the elastic locking piece 35 is returned to the free state, and the front stop protrusion 37 and the front stop portion 16 are locked. The detection member 30 is held at the standby position (movement to the detection position is restricted).

  Further, in the half-fitted state shown in FIG. 14, the restricting portion 34 is positioned at a height facing the region below the recess 21 in the rear end surface 10 </ b> R of the first housing 10 (side wall 19). Therefore, even if the detection member 30 is pushed from the rear, the restricting portion 34 abuts against the side wall 19 immediately after the pushing is started, so that further forward displacement of the detection member 30 is restricted. Therefore, the detection member 30 cannot be moved to the detection position when both the housings 10 and 40 are half-fitted. That is, the fitting state of the housings 10 and 40 (whether the fitting member is in the half-fitting state or the normal fitting state) is detected depending on whether or not the detection member 30 can be moved from the standby position to the detection position. It can be done.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the restricting portion 34 that restricts the movement of the detection member 30 from the standby position to the detection position restricts relative displacement of the detection member 30 in the elastic deflection direction with respect to the lock arm 12. It is provided in the unlocking operation unit 31 that is the area that has been set. Therefore, in a state where both housings 10 and 40 are not fitted, as long as the lock arm 12 is held at the non-deflection position, even if a pressing force in the detection position direction acts on the detection member 30, the restricting portion 34 is kept in a state where it abuts against the rear end surface 10R (outer surface) of the first housing 10, and the movement of the detection member 30 to the detection position is reliably prevented.

  Further, when the housings 10 and 40 are properly fitted, the elastic recovery accumulated in the lock arm 12 before the lock arm 12 which has been elastically bent to the unlocking position reaches the non-deflection position in the process of elastic return. Before the force disappears, the contact portions 15 and 45 are elastically contacted to generate a collision sound. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the housings 10 and 40 are properly fitted based on the presence or absence of the collision sound between the contact portions 15 and 45.

  In addition, the detecting member 30 and the lock arm 12 are engaging means that can restrict the movement of the detecting member 30 from the standby position to the detecting position by engaging the housings 10 and 40 with each other in an unfitted state. Since the front stop portion 16 and the front stop protrusion 37) are provided, when the two housings 10 and 40 are not fitted, the lock arm 12 is displaced to the lock position, and the restricting portion 34 corresponds to the recess 21. Even if it becomes a state, the detection member 30 can be held at the standby position by the locking action of the locking means (the front stop portion 16 and the front stop protrusion 37).

  In addition, the lock arm 12 is displaced in the unlocking direction by pushing the unlocking operation unit 31 provided on the detection member 30. The unlocking operation unit 31 is configured by the detection member 30. Since it is configured to protrude rearward (outward) from the rear end edge (outer edge) of the lock arm 12 in the standby position, the size of the lock release operation unit 31 and the protruding dimension from the lock arm 12 are the same as the lock arm 12. There is no restriction on the size of twelve. Therefore, even if the lock arm 12 is downsized, it is possible to secure a large operation area of the unlock operation unit 31 and improve the unlock operation.

  Further, in the state where the detection member 30 is in the standby position, the lock release operation part 31 is configured to protrude rearward (outward) from the rear end surface 10R (outer surface) of the first housing 10. In consideration of the above, the unlocking operation portion 31 restricts the displacement of the detection member 30 toward the detection position side by contacting the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10 in a state where both the housings 10 and 40 are half-fitted. A restricting portion 34 is formed. That is, the rear end face 10R of the first housing 10 is used as means for restricting the displacement of the detection member 30 toward the detection position when both the housings 10 and 40 are in a half-fitted state. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated means for restricting the displacement of the detection member 30 toward the detection position on the first housing 10, and the shape of the first housing 10 is simplified correspondingly.

  In addition, the detection member 30 is held at the detection position in a state where the housings 10 and 40 are fitted, but the detection member 30 does not protrude outward from the outer surface of the first housing 10 at the detection position. The connector as a whole can be reduced in size when the housings 10 and 40 are fitted.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the embodiment described above, the unlocking operation unit does not protrude outward from the outer surface of the first housing while the detection member is in the detection position. However, according to the present invention, the detection member is in the detection position. It is good also as a form which a lock release operation part protrudes outward rather than the outer surface of a 1st housing in a state.
(2) In the above embodiment, in the state where the detection member is in the standby position, the rear end surface of the detection member protrudes rearward from the rear end surface (outer surface) of the first housing. In a state in which the member is in the standby position, the rear end surface of the detection member is arranged at a position flush with the rear end surface (outer surface) of the first housing, or the detection member has a rear end surface of the first housing ( It is good also as a form distribute | arranged ahead (inner side) rather than an outer surface.
(3) In the above embodiment, the locking means for holding the detection member at the standby position releases the holding in a state where both housings are half-fitted (in the middle of fitting). The locking means for holding the detection member in the standby position may release the holding at the same time that both housings are properly fitted (when fitting is completed).
(4) In the above embodiment, the restricting portion is restricted from entering the recess when the lock arm is in the unlocked position. However, according to the present invention, the restriction is restricted when the lock arm is in the unlocked position. The part may be allowed to enter the recess.
(5) In the above embodiment, both the lock projection of the lock arm and the lock portion of the second housing are caused to function as the contact portion. However, according to the present invention, only one of the lock projection and the lock portion is used. May function as a contact portion.
(6) In the above embodiment, the locking means (locking protrusion and locking part) for locking both housings in the properly fitted state is made to function as the abutment part. Alternatively, a dedicated contact portion may be provided.
(7) In the above embodiment, the unlocking operation portion protrudes outward from the outer edge of the lock arm while the detection member is in the standby position. However, according to the present invention, the detection member is in the standby position. It is good also as a form which the lock release operation part does not protrude outward from the outer edge of a lock arm in a state.

(8) In the above embodiment, the locking means that can restrict the movement of the detection member from the standby position to the detection position by locking the two housings in an unfitted state is provided. Such a locking means may not be provided.

The perspective view of the 1st housing of Embodiment 1. Top view of the first housing Rear view of the first housing The perspective view showing the state which removed the detection member from the 1st housing The perspective view showing the state which removed the detection member from the 1st housing Front view of detection member Bottom view of detection member Perspective view of second housing Front view of second housing Sectional view of the second housing Sectional view of the first housing Sectional view of the first housing Sectional drawing showing the fitting process of the 2nd housing of the 1st housing Sectional drawing showing the fitting process of the 1st housing and the 2nd housing Sectional drawing showing the state which the 1st housing and the 2nd housing fitted normally Sectional drawing showing the state which the 1st housing and the 2nd housing fit normally, and the detection member moved to the detection position

Explanation of symbols

10: First housing 10R: Rear end surface (outer surface of first housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Lock arm 14 ... Lock protrusion 15 ... Contact part 16 ... Front stop part (locking means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Concave part 30 ... Detection member 31 ... Lock release operation part 34 ... Restriction part 36 ... Locking protrusion (release means)
37. Front stop protrusion (locking means)
40 ... second housing 45 ... contact portion
47 ... Release protrusion (release means)

Claims (3)

The first housing, together with the non-elastic deflection deflectable locking arm from the position to the unlocked position is provided in a posture facing the front-rear direction, with respect to the lock arm, the standby position so as to be along on the lock arm A detection member capable of moving between detection positions is attached,
When the first housing and the second housing are half-fitted, the lock arm is elastically bent to the unlock position, and the detection member is restricted from moving from the standby position to the detection position.
In a state where the first housing and the second housing are properly fitted, the lock arm is elastically restored and locked to the second housing so that the two housings are locked in the fitted state, and the detection is performed. In the connector that allows movement of the member from the standby position to the detection position,
The lock arm and the second housing are brought into contact with each other when the two housings are properly fitted and the lock arm is elastically restored, thereby bringing the lock arm into a lock position in front of the non-deflection position. An abutment section is provided for retaining,
The sensing member is Rutotomoni mounted so as to be displaceable integrally with the lock arm, the sensing member is resilient from portions restricting relative displacement of the resilient deforming direction with respect to the locking arm The stop piece is shaped like a cantilever extending forward,
Concave portion is formed on an outer surface of the first housing,
Regulatory wherein the said portion restricting relative displacement of the lock arm to the resilient deforming direction of the detection member, the detection member which is disposed outward from an outer surface of the first housing in a state in the standby position Part is provided,
When the lock arm is in the lock position, the restriction member is allowed to move from the standby position to the detection position while entering the recess,
When the lock arm is in a non-deflection position, the movement of the detection member to the detection position is restricted by the restricting portion abutting against the outer surface of the first housing ,
The elastic locking piece and the lock arm of the detection member can lock the detection member from the standby position to the detection position by locking the two housings when they are not fitted. Means are provided,
The elastic locking piece of the detection member and the second housing are provided with release means for releasing the locking by the locking means by engaging each other in a state where the two housings are properly fitted,
The release means is set on the distal end side of the elastic locking piece of the detection member, and the locking means is set on the proximal end side of the elastic locking piece of the detection member . When removing both the housings that are normally fitted, the lock member is displaced to the unlock position in a state where the detection member is returned from the detection position to the standby position,
The detection member is provided with a lock release operation portion that protrudes outward from an outer edge of the lock arm in a state where the detection member is in a standby position, and the lock arm is operated by pressing the lock release operation portion. the connector of claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that but has to displace the unlocking direction. The configuration in which the detection member is arranged at a position where the detection member is flush with an outer surface of the first housing or a position inside the outer surface when the detection member is in the detection position. The connector according to claim 1 or 2 .

Images