JP5272901B2 - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve workability at assembling a connector. <P>SOLUTION: A first connector housing 10 is provided with a slider 35 movable in a direction parallel with an engaging direction of both connector housings 10, 50, and a double force member 31 to be rotated by engaging with the slider 35; and a second connector housing 50 is provided with a cam follower 65 capable of engaging with a cam functional part 34 of the double force member 31. Both of the connector housings 10, 50 are engaged by a double force operation of: a rotating action of the double force member 31 with the slider 35 approaching the second connector housing 50; and a locking action of the cam functional part 34 and the cam follower 65 accompanying the rotation of the double force member 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a connector in which a first connector housing provided with a lever that functions as a boosting operation member and a second connector housing are fitted. When fitting the two connector housings, first, the two connector housings are temporarily fitted shallowly, and then the lever is rotated.

JP-A-7-192802

  In the connector described above, the moving direction when the lever is turned, that is, the direction of the operating force applied to the lever, is a direction that intersects the moving direction when the two connector housings are temporarily fitted. Thus, if the direction of operation when temporarily fitting the two connector housings is different from the direction of operation of the subsequent lever, workability is not good.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve workability.

As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is provided in a first connector housing, a second connector housing that can be fitted to the first connector housing, and the first connector housing, upon engagement between the first connector housing second connector housing and a slider which moves from the initial position so as to approach the second connector housing parallel to the fitting direction into the fitting position, the first provided in the connector housing, and the force multiplying member is rotated by engagement with the slider, is provided on the second connector housing, and a engageable with the cam follower cam functional portion of the force multiplying member, wherein Rotation operation of the booster member as the slider and the second connector housing approach each other, and cam as the booster member rotates The boosting action Noh portion by an engagement operation of the cam follower, the first a connector which connector housings and said second connector housing is fitted, said slider, said first connector housing A grip portion is formed for gripping when the second connector housing is fitted and detached, and the first connector housing is always properly fitted to the first connector housing. A lock arm that is held in a lock position that can be locked in a state and can be elastically displaced to a lock release position that releases the lock state of the first connector housing and the second connector housing; Wait in a standby position that does not interfere with the lock arm, and move the lock arm from the locked position to the unlocked position An unlocking member capable of moving to a releasing operation position to be displaced, and when the slider is in the initial position, the entire unlocking member waiting at the standby position is In a state where the slider is housed in the slider and the slider is in the fitting position, the unlocking operation portion of the unlocking member waiting at the standby position moves the unlocking member to the unlocking operation position. It is characterized in that it is exposed to the outside of the slider so that the above operation can be performed .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the slider according to the first aspect is gripped when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are fitted to at least the slider of the slider and the second connector housing. And a gripping center line extending from the center of the mating surfaces facing each other when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are mated in parallel with the mating direction. It is characterized in that it is arranged at a position through which.

The invention according to claim 3 is the one according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the boost member is supported by the first connector housing and is engaged with the slider. The first connector housing and the slider are provided with a locking portion that holds the slider in the initial position by locking each other, and the second connector housing is fitted with the first connector housing. It is characterized in that an unlocking portion for releasing the locking between the locking portions is provided in the initial stage.

A fourth aspect of the present invention, Te odor as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, before Symbol unlocking portion, by being disposed in the vicinity of the gripping portion grips the grip portion It is characterized in that it can be operated with the fingers of a hand.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When fitting the two connector housings, the first connector housing approaches the second connector housing, and the slider provided on the first connector housing approaches the second connector housing in the same manner as the first connector housing. . Thus, since the first connector housing and the slider move in the same direction with respect to the second connector housing, there is no need to move the slider in a direction different from the fitting direction of both connector housings. Excellent workability.

In addition, since the grip portion is formed on the slider, the second connector housing can be fixed in a standby state that does not require a gripping operation, and it is not necessary to form the grip portion, thereby reducing the size. Is possible. Further, since the booster member is provided in the first connector housing, the second connector housing does not need a space for providing the booster member in addition to a space for providing the slider. In this respect, the second connector housing can be downsized.
In addition, when both connector housings are not fitted, the unlocking member cannot be moved to the unlocking position because the slider is in the initial position and the unlocking member is accommodated in the slider. The member is held in a standby position that does not interfere with the lock arm. Therefore, when the fitting operation of the two connector housings is started, the displacement operation between the lock position and the lock release position of the lock arm is not hindered by the lock release member.
When both the connector housings are fitted and locked in the fitted state by the lock arm, the slider moves to the fitted position, and the unlocking operation portion of the unlocking member is exposed to the outside of the slider. Therefore, when removing both connector housings, the lock arm can be displaced to the unlock position by operating the release operation part to move the lock release member to the release operation position. Is released.

<Invention of Claim 2 >
Since the gripping part is arranged on the fitting center line, the operating force in the fitting direction applied to the gripping part when the two connector housings are fitted acts substantially at the center of the fitting surfaces of the two connector housings. Therefore, there is no possibility that the posture between the two connector housings is inclined, and the fitting operation of the two connector housings is performed smoothly.

<Invention of Claim 2 >
Since the slider can be held at the initial position, the booster member engaged with the slider is also held at a predetermined position. Thereby, the engagement operation of the cam function portion of the booster member and the cam follower of the second connector housing is performed at an appropriate timing. Thereby, a boosting action is exhibited appropriately and both connector housings can be smoothly fitted.

<Invention of Claim 4 >
When detaching both connector housings locked in the fitted state, the operator operates the release operation part with the finger of the hand holding the grip part to release the lock arm, and then The first connector housing can be separated from the second connector housing together with the slider while holding the holding portion. As described above, when removing both connector housings, it is not necessary to change the hand, which is excellent in workability.

Sectional drawing of the 1st connector housing of Embodiment 1. FIG. Partially cutaway side view showing a state before fitting the first connector housing and the second connector housing The side view showing the state before fitting of the 1st connector housing and the 2nd connector housing Partially cutaway side view showing a state in which the first connector housing and the second connector housing are being fitted together Partially cutaway side view showing a state where the first connector housing and the second connector housing are properly fitted. Side view showing a state in which the first connector housing and the second connector housing are properly fitted. Partially cutaway side view showing the lock arm unlocked when both connector housings are properly fitted Partial sectional view showing the state where both connector housings are properly fitted Front view of first connector housing Front view of second connector housing Horizontal sectional view showing the mounting structure of the unlocking member Partially cutaway perspective view of a guide portion provided in the second connector housing

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment is configured to fit the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 50, and a battery mounted on a vehicle using electric power as a drive source such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid car. Used in a charging circuit for charging.

  The first connector housing 10 is made of synthetic resin and has a block shape as a whole. A plurality of first terminal fittings 11 are attached to the first connector housing 10. The electric wire 12 connected to the rear end portion of each first terminal fitting 11 is bent downward inside the first connector housing 10 and passes through the cylindrical portion 13 protruding from the lower surface of the rear end portion of the first connector housing 10. It is led downward to the outside of the first connector housing 10 in a state of being bundled by tape winding or the like. On the outer periphery of the first connector housing 10, there are formed locking projections 14 (locking portions which are constituent elements of the present invention) protruding from four places spaced in the circumferential direction. The locking projection 14 has a function of stopping a slider 35 described later.

  The first connector housing 10 is formed with a plurality of fitting recesses 16 in which the first fitting surface 15 (that is, the front end surface) is recessed, and the first terminal fitting 11 is formed in each fitting recess 16. The front end is accommodated. The first fitting surface 15 is a plane perpendicular to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 50. The first connector housing 10 is provided with a first rotating plate 17 that can rotate along the first fitting surface 15, and a first shielding plate 18 that is disposed so as to overlap the front surface of the first rotating plate 17. ing. A plurality of first connection holes 17a corresponding to the first terminal fittings 11 are formed through the first rotating plate 17, and the first terminal fittings 11 (fitting recesses 16) are formed on the first shielding plate 18. A plurality of first communication holes 18a arranged to correspond to each other are formed. A non-circular first first guide hole 19 is formed through the center of the first rotating plate 17.

  The first connector housing 10 has a lock arm 20 extending in the front-rear direction (a direction parallel to the fitting / removing direction of the connector housings 10, 50) along the upper surface (outer periphery) of the first connector housing 10. It is attached so that it can swing in a seesaw shape with fulcrum as a fulcrum. A lock hole 22 is formed at the front end of the lock arm 20 so as to penetrate vertically, and a pressed portion 23 that protrudes upward is formed at the rear end of the lock arm 20. The lock arm 20 is always held at a lock position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 8) in a posture parallel to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 50 by biasing means (not shown). However, it can be elastically displaced to the unlocking position (see FIG. 7) in which the front end is displaced upward.

  An unlocking member 24 extending in the front-rear direction along the upper surface of the first connector housing 10 is attached so that it can move in the front-rear direction (a direction parallel to the fitting / removing direction of the connector housings 10, 50). It has been. As shown in FIG. 11, a spring receiving projection 25 is formed on one side surface of the unlocking member 24, and a spring receiving portion 26 is formed on the first connector housing 10, and the spring receiving projection 25, the spring receiving portion 26, An urging spring 27 composed of a compression coil spring having an axis line in the front-rear direction is provided between the two. The unlocking member 24 is always urged rearward by the urging force of the urging spring 27 and abuts against the stopper 28 of the first connector housing 10 so as to stand by (see FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5). However, it can move in parallel to the release operation position (see FIG. 7) ahead of the standby position against the bias of the biasing spring 27.

  The unlocking member 24 is disposed behind the lock arm 20, and a pressing surface 29 that is inclined with respect to the moving direction of the unlocking member 24 is formed on the lower surface of the front end portion of the unlocking member 24. Also. The rear end portion of the lock release member 24 is a release operation unit 30. When the lock release member 24 is in the standby position and the lock arm 20 is in the lock position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the tapered pressing surface 29 on the lower surface of the front end portion of the lock release member 24 It is located so as to approach and correspond to the 20 pressed parts 23 in a non-contact or non-interference state from above. When the lock release member 24 moves from the standby position to the release operation position while the lock arm 20 is in the lock position, the lock arm 29 is slidably in contact with the pressed portion 23 in the process. Since a downward pressing force is applied to the rear end portion of 20, the lock arm 20 swings from the lock position to the lock release position as shown in FIG.

  A pair of left and right boosting members 31 are attached to the first connector housing 10. The booster member 31 has a plate shape, and an initial position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 4) and a fitting position by a support shaft 32 in the left-right direction (a direction intersecting the fitting direction of both the connector housings 10, 50) (See FIGS. 5, 6, and 7). The booster member 31 is formed with a connecting projection 33 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction at a position above the support shaft 32. Also. The booster member 31 is formed with a cam function portion 34 extending in a groove shape so as to approach the support shaft 32 from a position opposite to the connection projection 33 across the support shaft 32 on the outer peripheral edge thereof. ing. The distance between the support shaft 32 and the connecting projection 33 is set to be longer than the maximum distance between the support shaft 32 and the cam function portion 34.

  A slider 35 is attached to the first connector housing 10. The slider 35 is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a cylindrical main body portion 36 whose front surface is open, and a grip portion 37 that is integrally formed at the rear end portion of the main body portion 36. The main body 36 surrounds the first connector housing 10 over the entire circumference, and the lock arm 20 and the lock release member 24 are also accommodated in the main body 36. A lead-out hole 38 is formed in the lower surface of the main body portion 36, and the cylindrical portion 13 of the first connector housing 10 passes through the lead-out hole 38. The bundle of the electric wires 12 of the first connector housing 10 is led downward to the outside of the slider 35 through the lead-out hole 38.

  The left and right side walls of the main body 36 are arranged in the front-rear direction (a direction parallel to the fitting / removing direction of the connector housings 10 and 50 and a direction parallel to the relative movement direction of the slider 35 with respect to the first connector housing 10). An escape hole 39 made of a long long hole is formed. In the escape hole 39, the protruding end portion of the support shaft 32, which is the rotation center of the booster member 31, is engaged so as to be capable of relative movement in the front-rear direction. Similarly, on both the left and right side walls of the main body 36, connection holes 40 are formed which are elongated holes extending in the vertical direction (a direction that intersects the slider 35 with respect to the first connector housing 10 at a substantially right angle). The connection projection 40 of the booster member 31 is engaged with the connection hole 40 so as to be capable of relative movement in the vertical direction. Therefore, as the slider 35 moves relative to the first connector housing 10 in the front-rear direction, the booster member 31 rotates in conjunction with the first connector housing 10.

  Further, the gripping portion 37 is long in the vertical direction (direction intersecting with the fitting / removing direction of the connector housings 10, 50), and both upper and lower end portions are connected to the main body portion 36. On the front surface of the gripping portion 37, four finger-hanging portions 41 having a concave shape in an arc shape when viewed from the side are formed side by side. It is possible to hook the index finger (second finger), the middle finger (third finger), the ring finger (fourth finger), and the little finger (fifth finger) in order from above on the four finger hanging portions 41. ing. Then, when these fingers are hooked on the finger-hanging portion 41, the grip portion 37 can be gripped by the palm. When the gripping portion 37 is gripped in this manner, the thumb (first finger) of the gripping hand corresponds to the upper end portion of the gripping portion 37 (the portion from which the release operation portion 30 protrudes) from behind. Is located. Further, in the vertical direction, the formation region of the gripping portion 37 extends over a range including the center of the first fitting surface 15 of the first connector housing 10. Similarly, in the left-right direction, the formation region of the gripping portion 37 extends over a range including the center of the first fitting surface 15 of the first connector housing 10.

  The slider 35 is in the front-rear direction (that is, between the initial position (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and the fitting position (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 7) ahead of the initial position with respect to the first connector housing 10 (that is, The connector housings 10 and 50 can move relative to each other in a direction parallel to the fitting / removing direction. On the inner surface of the main body 36, four locking arms 42 (locking portions which are constituent elements of the present invention) are formed so as to extend forward in a cantilevered manner, and the slider 35 is in the initial position. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the front end of the locking arm 42 is locked to the locking protrusion 14 of the first connector housing 10 from the rear, whereby the slider 35 is stopped in front. Further, in the state where the slider 35 is in the initial position, the cylindrical portion 13 approaches the front end edge of the opening edge of the lead-out hole 38 so as to face or abut against the front end edge. Relative movement to the fitting position side) is restricted. As a result, the slider 35 is held at the initial position or a position slightly behind the initial position. Further, the entire unlocking member 24 is housed inside the slider 35. Therefore, the release operation unit 30 is not exposed to the outside of the slider 35 and the release operation unit 30 cannot be operated for release.

  In the process of the slider 35 relatively moving forward from the initial position toward the fitting position, the cylindrical portion 13 moves relatively rearward in the outlet hole 38. When the slider 35 reaches the fitting position, the rear end surface of the first connector housing 10 and the cylindrical portion 13 abut against the rear surface wall of the slider 35, so that further advancement of the slider 35 is restricted. Thereby, the slider 35 is hold | maintained in a fitting position. In the state where the slider 35 is in the fitting position, the release operation portion 30 of the lock release member 24 protrudes rearward from the rear end surface of the slider 35 as shown in FIGS. The position of the release operation unit 30 is a position corresponding to the upper end of the gripping part 37, that is, the thumb of the hand holding the gripping part 37.

  The second connector housing 50 is made of synthetic resin, and includes a terminal accommodating portion 51 and a hood portion 52 that protrudes forward from the peripheral edge of the terminal accommodating portion 51 as shown in FIG. A plurality of second terminal fittings 53 connectable to the first terminal fitting 11 are accommodated in the second connector housing 50. The second connector housing 50 is formed with a plurality of cylindrical fitting portions 54 that protrude from the front end face of the terminal accommodating portion 51, and each cylindrical fitting portion 54 accommodates the front end portion of the second terminal fitting 53. ing. The front end surface of the second connector housing 50 (the front end surface of the terminal accommodating portion 51) is perpendicular to the fitting direction of the two connector housings 10 and 50 and is parallel to the first fitting surface 15 of the first connector housing 10. In addition, the second fitting surface 55 is concentric.

  The second connector housing 50 is formed with a shaft-shaped guide portion 56 that protrudes forward from the center of the front end surface of the terminal accommodating portion 51 in a cantilevered manner. As shown in FIG. 12, the front end portion of the guide portion 56 is a rotation guide portion 57 having a non-circular cross section, and a long region behind the rotation guide portion 57 in the guide portion 56 is a linear guide portion 58. ing. The rotation guide portion 57 is formed with a spiral guide surface. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the linear guide part 58 is non-circular over the whole length.

  A second rotating plate 59 that is allowed to rotate relative to the second connector housing 50 and to move in the front-rear direction is provided in the hood portion 52, and is disposed along the front surface of the second rotating plate 59. Thus, a second shielding plate 60 that is allowed only relative movement in the front-rear direction is provided. A plurality of second connection holes 59 a corresponding to the second terminal fittings 53 are formed through the second rotating plate 59, and a plurality of arrangements corresponding to the second terminal fittings 53 are formed in the second shielding plate 60. The communication hole 60a is formed to penetrate therethrough. The second rotating plate 59 and the second shielding plate 60 are held at the initial position in front by the spring member 61, and at this time, the second guide hole 62 at the center of the second rotating plate 59 is formed in the rotation guide portion 57 of the guide portion 56. Is engaged.

  A lock projection 63 is formed on the outer peripheral upper surface of the hood portion 52. Further, on the inner periphery of the hood portion 52, there are formed locking release portions 64 protruding from four places spaced in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, a pair of cam followers 65 are formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the hood portion 52 so as to protrude in a columnar shape in the left-right direction.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In a state where the connector housings 10 and 50 are not fitted, in the first connector housing 10, the first rotating plate 17 has a first connection hole 17 a that does not correspond to the first communication hole 18 a of the first shielding plate 18. Therefore, both the first connection hole 17a and the first communication hole 18a are shielded, and the first terminal fitting 11 is protected so as not to be interfered by foreign matter from the outside. Also in the second connector housing 50, since the second rotary plate 59 has the second connection hole 59a in a position not corresponding to the second communication hole 60a of the second shielding plate 60, the second connection hole 59a and the second connection hole 59a All of the communication holes 60a are shielded, and the second terminal fitting 53 is protected so as not to be interfered by foreign matter from the outside.

  In the first connector housing 10, the lock arm 20 is in the locked position, and the lock release member 24 is held in a standby position that does not interfere with the lock arm 20. The slider 35 is held at the initial position. Since the slider 35 and the booster member 31 are connected to each other via the connection protrusion 33 and the connection hole 40, the booster member 31 is also held at the initial position, like the slider 35. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inlet of the cam function portion 34 (the opening at the peripheral edge of the booster member 31) opens toward the front (the second connector housing 50 side).

  From this state, when fitting both the connector housings 10 and 50, the grip portion 37 of the slider 35 is gripped, and the first connector housing 10 is shallowly fitted to the hood portion 52 of the second connector housing 50. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the cam follower 65 enters the entrance of the cam function portion 34 and is engaged with each other. Further, the latch release portion 64 of the second connector housing 50 interferes with the latch arm 42 and elastically bends the latch arm 42 in a direction to disengage from the latch projection 14. The locking with the protrusion 14 is released. As a result, the slider 35 is released from the pre-stop state and thus allowed to move toward the fitting position. Further, the first shielding plate 18 contacts the second shielding plate 60, and the first guide hole 19 of the first rotating plate 17 is fitted into the rotation guide portion 57 of the guide portion 56.

  When the first connector housing 10 is pressed against the second connector housing 50 while holding the grip portion 37 from this state, the fitting of the two connector housings 10 and 50 proceeds, and the slider 35 at the initial position is moved to the first connector housing. It moves forward (toward the fitting position) relative to 10. That is, the slider 35 moves in a direction approaching the second connector housing 50.

  While the slider 35 moves from the initial position to the fitting position, the front end of the lock arm 20 interferes with the lock protrusion 63, so that the lock arm 20 is displaced from the lock position to the lock release position as shown in FIG. . Further, due to the engagement between the connection protrusion 33 and the connection hole 40, the booster member 31 also rotates from the initial position toward the fitting position. As the boost member 31 rotates, the first connector housing 10 approaches the second connector housing 50 due to the engagement of the cam function portion 34 and the cam follower 65. At this time, the pushing operation force applied to the slider 35 is transmitted to the connection protrusion 33, and the distance from the connection protrusion 33 to the support shaft 32 (the rotation center of the booster member 31) is from the cam follower 65 to the support shaft 32. Because it is always greater than the distance, a boosting action occurs.

  Thus, the rotation operation of the booster member 31 as the slider 35 approaches the second connector housing 50, and the engagement operation of the cam function portion 34 and the cam follower 65 as the booster member 31 rotates. Therefore, even if the operating force applied to the slider 35 is small, both the connector housings 10 and 50 can be easily and reliably fitted with each other.

  Further, while the fitting of both the connector housings 10 and 50 proceeds, not only the second rotating plate 59 but also the first rotating plate 17 is engaged with the rotation guide portion 57 of the guide portion 56, 59 rotates as a unit. As a result, the first connection hole 17a is in a state corresponding (aligned) with the first communication hole 18a, and the second connection hole 59a is in a state corresponding (alignment) with the second communication hole 60a. The first terminal fitting 11 and the second terminal fitting 53 are connected through the holes 17a and 59a and the communication holes 18a and 60a. After the connection holes 17a and 59a correspond to the communication holes 18a and 60a, the rotary plates 17 and 59 are engaged with the linear guide portion 58, and thus move linearly (translate) without rotating. Therefore, the connection holes 17a and 59a do not interfere with the terminal fittings 11 and 53.

  When the slider 35 and the booster member 31 reach the mating position, the connector housings 10 and 50 are brought into a regular mating state, and the lock arm 20 is elastically restored as shown in FIGS. And the locking projection 63 are locked. Due to this locking action, both the connector housings 10 and 50 are locked in a proper fitting state. Further, as the slider 35 moves to the fitting position, the release operation portion 30 of the lock release member 24 protrudes rearward from the slider 35 as shown in FIGS. At this time, the protruding position of the release operation unit 30 is a position corresponding to the belly of the thumb holding the grip 37.

  When the connector housings 10 and 50 that are locked in the fitted state are to be detached, the gripping portion 37 is grasped and the release operation portion 30 is pushed in with the thumb of the gripped hand. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the lock release member 24 moves from the standby position to the release operation position, so that the pressing surface 29 pushes down the pressed portion 23 of the lock arm 20. Due to the pushing-down action, the lock arm 20 is displaced from the lock position to the lock release position, so that the locking state between the lock hole 22 and the lock protrusion 63 is released, and both the connector housings 10 and 50 are in a detachable state. .

  Thereafter, the slider 35 is pulled rearward while holding the grip portion 37. Then, since the booster member 31 rotates as in the case of fitting, a boosting action occurs. Therefore, even if the pulling force applied to the slider 35 is small, the first connector housing 10 can be easily and reliably detached from the second connector housing 50.

  In the present embodiment, when the connector housings 10 and 50 are fitted together, the first connector housing 10 approaches the second connector housing 50 and the slider 35 provided in the first connector housing 10 Similar to the first connector housing 10, the second connector housing 50 is approached. Thus, since the first connector housing 10 and the slider 35 move in the same direction with respect to the second connector housing 50, an operation for moving the slider 35 in a direction different from the fitting direction of the two connector housings 10 and 50 is unnecessary. It is excellent in workability at the time of mating.

  Further, since the grip portion 37 is formed on the slider 35, the second connector housing 50 can be fixed in a standby state that does not require a gripping operation, and the grip portion 37 need not be formed. Therefore, downsizing is possible. Further, since the booster member 31 is provided in the first connector housing 10, not only the space for providing the slider 35 but also the space for providing the booster member 31 is unnecessary in the second connector housing 50. Yes. In this respect, the second connector housing 50 can be downsized.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gripping portion 37 of the slider 35 is parallel to the fitting direction from the center of the fitting surfaces 15 and 55 that face each other when the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 50 are fitted. The fitting center line 70 extending in the front-rear direction is disposed at a position where it passes. As described above, since the gripping portion 37 is arranged on the fitting center line 70, the operating force in the fitting direction applied to the gripping portion 37 when the two connector housings 10 and 50 are fitted together is the two connector housings 10 and 50. Acting on substantially the center of the fitting surfaces 15 and 55. Therefore, there is no possibility that the posture between the two connector housings 10 and 50 is inclined, and the fitting operation of the two connector housings 10 and 50 is performed smoothly.

  Further, the booster member 31 is supported by the first connector housing 10 and provided in a state of being engaged with the slider 35, and then the slider 35 is brought into the initial position by the locking of the locking arm 42 and the locking projection 14. I kept it. As a result, the booster member 31 is held at a predetermined initial position, so that the engagement operation between the cam function portion 34 of the booster member 31 and the cam follower 65 of the second connector housing 50 is performed at an appropriate timing. A force action is exhibited appropriately and both connector housings 10 and 50 can be smoothly fitted.

  When the connector housings 10 and 50 are not fitted, the slider 35 is in the initial position and the entire unlocking member 24 is accommodated in the slider 35. Therefore, the unlocking member 24 is moved to the releasing operation position. The lock release member 24 cannot be moved, and is held at a standby position that does not interfere with the lock arm 20. Therefore, when the fitting operation of both the connector housings 10 and 50 is started, the displacement operation between the lock position and the lock release position of the lock arm 20 is not hindered by the lock release member 24.

  Further, when both the connector housings 10 and 50 are fitted and locked to the fitted state by the lock arm 20, the slider 35 moves to the fitting position, and the release operation portion 30 of the lock release member 24 is moved to the slider 35. It will be in the state where it can expose to the exterior and can perform operation for moving the lock release member 24 to a release operation position. Therefore, when both the connector housings 10 and 50 are detached, the lock arm 20 is displaced to the unlock position by operating the release operation portion 30 and moving the lock release member 24 to the release operation position. The locked state of both connector housings 10 and 50 is released.

  In addition, the release operation unit 30 that is in an operable state is disposed in the vicinity of the gripping unit 37 and can be operated with a finger of a hand gripping the gripping unit 37. Therefore, when detaching the connector housings 10 and 50 that are locked in the fitted state, the operator operates the release operation unit 30 with the finger of the hand holding the holding unit 37 to lock arm 20. After that, the first connector housing 10 can be separated from the second connector housing 50 together with the slider 35 while holding the holding portion 37. As described above, when both the connector housings 10 and 50 are detached, it is not necessary to change hands, and one-action operation is sufficient, so that workability is excellent.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments 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.
(1) In the above embodiment, the first connector housing having the slider is a connector on the power feeding side (charging stand side), and the second connector housing is a connector on the power receiving side (vehicle side). The first connector housing having the slider may be a power receiving side connector, and the second connector housing may be a power feeding side connector.
(2) In the above embodiment, the grip portion is formed only on the slider, but the grip portion may be formed on both the second connector housing and the slider.
(3) In the above embodiment, the gripping portion is disposed at a position where the fitting center line extending in parallel with the fitting direction passes from the center of the mating surfaces facing each other when the two connector housings are fitted. May be arranged at a position deviating from the fitting center line.
(4) In the above embodiment, the locking portion (locking arm) on the slider side can be elastically bent, and the locking portion (locking protrusion) on the first connector housing side is not elastically bent. On the contrary, the latching portion on the slider side may not be elastically bent, and the locking portion on the first connector housing side may be elastically deflectable.
(5) In the above embodiment, the release operation unit is arranged in the vicinity of the gripping unit, but the release operation unit is arranged at a position far from the gripping unit and cannot be operated with the finger of the hand holding the gripping unit. even if there have good.
<Reference example>
(1) In the above embodiment, the first connector housing provided with the slider is provided with the boosting member, and the second connector housing provided with no slider is provided with the cam follower. A cam follower may be provided in the provided first connector housing, and a booster member may be provided in the second connector housing provided with no slider. In this case, the grip portion may be formed on either the slider or the second connector housing.
(2) In the above embodiment, the grip portion is formed on the slider so that the first connector housing is the operation side connector and the second connector housing is the standby side connector. A gripping portion may be formed on the housing, and the second connector housing may be used as an operation-side connector, and the first connector housing may be used as a standby-side connector without forming a gripping portion on the slider. In this case, the first connector housing on the standby side may be either the power supply side (charging station side) or the power reception side (vehicle side), and similarly, the second connector housing may be either the power supply side or the power reception side.
(3) In the above embodiment, when the slider is in the initial position, the release operation portion of the unlocking member is accommodated in the slider. However, the release operation portion is operated outside the slider while the slider is in the initial position. It may be exposed as possible.
(4) Although the lock release member is provided separately from the lock arm as means for releasing the lock arm in the above embodiment, the lock arm may be unlocked by directly touching the lock arm.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... 1st connector housing 14 ... Locking protrusion (locking part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Fitting surface of 1st connector housing 20 ... Lock arm 24 ... Unlocking member 30 ... Release operation part 31 ... Boosting member 34 ... Cam function part 35 ... Slider 37 ... Grip part 42 ... Locking arm (locking part) )
50 ... Second connector housing 55 ... Fitting surface of second connector housing 64 ... Unlocking portion 65 ... Cam follower 70 ... Fitting center line

Claims (4)

A first connector housing;
A second connector housing matable with the first connector housing;
The first connector housing is provided from the initial position so as to approach the second connector housing in parallel with the fitting direction when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are fitted. A slider that moves to a position,
A booster member provided in the first connector housing and rotated by engagement with the slider;
A cam follower provided in the second connector housing and engageable with a cam function part of the booster member;
Rotation of the boosting member as the slider and the second connector housing approach each other, and boosting due to the engagement of the cam function portion and the cam follower as the boosting member rotates. A connector in which the first connector housing and the second connector housing are fitted by action ,
The slider is formed with a grip portion for gripping the first connector housing when the first connector housing is fitted to and detached from the second connector housing.
In the first connector housing,
The first connector housing and the second connector housing are always held in a locked position where the first connector housing and the second connector housing can be locked in a normal fitting state, and the first connector housing and the second connector housing are unlocked to release the locked state. A lock arm that can be elastically displaced;
There is always provided a standby position at a non-interfering standby position with the lock arm, and an unlocking member capable of moving the lock arm from the locked position to the unlocked position is provided.
In the state where the slider is in the initial position, the entire unlocking member waiting in the standby position is accommodated in the slider,
In a state where the slider is in the fitting position, the unlocking operation portion of the unlocking member waiting at the standby position can perform an operation for moving the unlocking member to the unlocking operation position. A connector which is exposed to the outside of the slider . At least the slider of the slider and the second connector housing is formed with a grip portion for gripping when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are fitted,
The gripping portion is disposed at a position where a fitting center line extending in parallel with the fitting direction passes from the center of the fitting surface facing each other when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are fitted. The connector according to claim 1. The booster member is supported by the first connector housing and provided in a state of being engaged with the slider.
The first connector housing and the slider are provided with a locking portion that holds the slider in the initial position by locking each other.
The lock release part which cancels | releases the latching | locking of the said latching | locking parts at the initial stage of a fitting with the said 1st connector housing is provided in the said 2nd connector housing, The Claim 1 or Claim characterized by the above-mentioned. Item 3. The connector according to item 2 . The release operation part is arranged at a position in the vicinity of the grip part so that it can be operated by a finger of a hand gripping the grip part. The connector according to any one of 3.

Images