JPH11260471A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector in which temporary lock holding power of one connector housing in a cover until completion of fitting of male and female connector housings is enhanced, and thereby the both connector housings can be easily and reliably fitted. SOLUTION: In this connector 10, a lever 40 turned by a reciprocating and sliding movement is supported turnably by a cover 30 provided with one connector housing 50 in its freely reciprocating and sliding movement state, a side of an intermediate part 43 of the lever 40 is linked with an action point part 53 of the connector housing 50, and when both connector housings 50, 60 are fitted, a side of a tip part 44 of the lever 40 is freely engaged with an engagement part 68 of another connector housing 60. The cover 30 is formed so as to have a size to completely wrap the connector housing 50 and a guide groove 37 is formed on an inner wall 32 of the cover 30 and a projecting stopper part 55 slidable in the guide groove 37 is provided on the connector housing 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector suitable for smoothly connecting and disconnecting multipolar male and female connector housings from each other.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The applicant of the present invention has disclosed a connector of this type in Japanese Patent Application No.
328263 filed. This will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. The male connector housing 2 made of synthetic resin for the connector 1 has a slide cover 3.
Is reciprocally slidable. On both sides of the upper wall of the slide cover 3, the base end 4 a of the lever 4 which is rotated by the reciprocating motion of the slide cover 3 is attached to the support shaft 3 for power point.
Each is rotatably supported via a. The middle part 4b side of the lever 4 is linked to each guide part (action point part) 5 on both side surfaces of the male connector housing 2, and
When the female and female connector housings 2 and 7 are fitted together, the distal end 4c side of the lever 4 is freely engageable with a rib (engaging portion) 8 of the female connector housing 7 made of synthetic resin.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 20, a slide cover 3 is formed in the shape of a quadrangular cylinder for enclosing the male connector housing 2, and both side walls of the slide cover 3 include both sides of the male connector housing 2. The extension parts 3b are each formed so as to protrude. Thereby, the front center of the upper and lower wall portions of the slide cover 3 is cut out in a rectangular shape (the notched portion is indicated by reference numeral 3c in FIG. 20).

As shown in FIG. 19, the slide cover 3 is in a provisionally locked state in which the lever 4 is inclined between the protrusion 5a of the guide portion 5 of the male connector housing 2 and the tapered surface 6a of the lever push-out portion 6. And the male connector housing 2 is in a waiting state (so-called waiting state).
When the slide cover 3 in which the male connector housing 2 is temporarily locked is pushed into the hood portion 7a of the female connector housing 7 from this state, the distal end side of the lever 4 becomes the lever fulcrum of the rib 8 of the hood portion 7a of the female connector housing 7. When the lever 4 starts rotating in contact with the projection 8a, the lever 3 is further pushed in the fitting direction, and the lever 4 is actuated (the support shaft 3 that rotatably supports the base end 4a of the lever 4).
a as a point of force, leverage with the projection 5a of the guide portion 5 of the male connector housing 2 as the point of action, and the projection 8a of the rib 8 of the female connector housing 7 as a fulcrum). The housing 2 is retracted so that the connector housings 2 and 7 are fitted to each other.

[0005]

However, in the prior art connector 1, the support shaft 3a of the slide cover 3 is not provided.
The lever 4 rotatably supported on the slide cover 3 is tilted between the protrusion 5a of the guide portion 5 of the male connector housing 2 and the tapered surface 6a of the lever push-out portion 6.
The provisional locking of the male connector housing 2 in the connector housing 2 is temporarily stopped, so that the temporary locking holding force of the male connector housing 2 in the slide cover 3 is weak, and the two connector housings 2, 7 Before the mating of the male connector housing 2 is completed, the male connector housing 2 is lowered rearward in the slide cover 3,
There is a possibility that the two connector housings 2 and 7 cannot be fitted. Further, since the slide cover 3 has no guide for the movement of the male connector housing 2 in the front-rear direction, the male connector housing 2 is liable to be obliquely lowered in the slide cover 3.
There is a risk that poor fitting or unfitting may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and improves the temporary locking holding force of one connector housing in a cover until the fitting of the male and female connector housings is completed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector that can easily and surely fit both connector housings.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention of claim 1 is a male,
One connector housing of the female and female connector housings is slidably provided in the cover in a reciprocating manner, and a base end portion of a lever which is rotated by the reciprocation of the one connector housing is rotatably supported on the cover. The middle part of the lever is linked to the action point of the one connector housing, and the tip end of the lever is freely engageable with the engaging part of the other connector housing when the two connector housings are fitted. A connector, wherein the cover is formed to have a size that completely covers the one connector housing in a fitting standby state, and a guide groove is formed on an inner wall side of the cover, and the guide of the one connector housing is formed. A stopper projection that slides in the guide groove is provided at a position facing the groove.

In this connector, the stopper convex portion of one connector housing slides in the guide groove of the cover, whereby the cover and the one connector housing come off due to an external load force, and the one connector housing in the cover is removed. Oblique falling is reliably prevented. As a result, the temporary holding force of the one connector housing in the cover until the mating of the male and female connector housings is completed is sufficiently ensured, and poor fitting and unmating of the two connector housings are prevented. Both connector housings are fitted easily and securely.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the first aspect, the stopper projections are provided on both upper and lower sides of the one connector housing, respectively, and the stopper projections face the respective stopper projections. The guide grooves are formed on the inner wall side of the cover.

[0010] In this connector, rattling of the one connector housing in the cover in the horizontal and vertical directions when sliding is reliably prevented, and the one connector housing slides smoothly along each guide groove of the cover. .

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before the connector is fitted, and FIG. It is a top view shown by a partial cross section. In the description in the drawings, the mating sides of the male and female connector housings constituting the connector are respectively referred to as front sides.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Is a substantially rectangular cylindrical holder 20 made of synthetic resin and attached to the substantially rectangular mounting hole 12 of the inner panel (attached body) 11 of the vehicle. A substantially rectangular cylindrical cover 30 made of synthetic resin and slidably provided in the front-rear direction;
A pair of levers 40, 40 made of synthetic resin for fitting the male and female connector housings 50, 60 to be described later by leverage, and fitted in the cover 30 are supported by the base end 41 rotatably. It is temporarily locked in a standby state (so-called standby state), and is in a fitting standby state with a synthetic resin male connector housing (one connector housing) 50 provided reciprocally slidably in the cover 30. Fitting / removing (fitting / removing) with the male connector housing 50
And a female connector housing (the other connector housing) 60 made of synthetic resin.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the holder 20 is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape by upper and lower walls 20a, 20b and both side walls 20c, 20c, and a cover 30 is slid in the holder 20. It is movably supported. At the center of the rear end of the rear opening of each of the walls 20a, 20b, 20c of the holder 20, a rear fixing plate portion 21 which is locked to the rear surface 11b side of the inner panel 11 is integrally formed. At a position in front of the inner panel 11 where the thickness of the inner panel 11 is separated from the rear fixing plate portion 21 near the corner at the rear of each of the walls 20a, 20b, 20c, the front panel 11a is locked. The front fixed plate portions 22 are integrally formed to protrude. Further, the upper and lower walls 20a, 20a of the holder 20 are provided.
b and a mounting hole 1 at the center of each rear portion of both side walls 20c, 20c.
The centering spring portions 23 and 2 are located at positions facing the inner edge of the hole 2.
3 and 24 are integrally formed to protrude, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the front end of the front opening of each wall 20a, 20b, 20c of the holder 20 (the end on the mating side of the female connector housing 60) 20d.
Is vertical. Further, an L-shaped flexible arm (temporary locking means) 25 is integrally formed from the center of each of the side walls 20c, 20c of the holder 20 to the front side through a pair of slits 25b, 25b. It is. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a projection (locking portion) 25 a having a trapezoidal cross section is formed integrally with the inside of the distal end of each flexible arm 25.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a pair of narrow guide grooves 26, 26 are formed on both sides of the center on the inner surface side of the upper wall 20a of the holder 20. A pair of wide guide grooves 27 are formed integrally on both sides of the center on the inner surface side of the lower wall 20b. Each of the guide grooves 26 and 27 is recessed in a guide rail shape on the inner surface side, and the stepped front wall portions 26 a and 27 a with the inner surface on the front end side function as stoppers of the cover 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the cover 30 has a double structure of a substantially square cylindrical outer wall 31 and a substantially square cylindrical inner wall 32 integrally formed inside the outer wall 31. A hood portion 61 of a female connector housing 60 to be described later is accommodated from between the outer wall 31 and the inner wall 32 whose sides are open, and the male connector housing 50 is temporarily locked and slidable in the inner wall 32 in a fitting standby state. . That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer wall 31 of the cover 30 is formed to have a size that completely includes the male connector housing 50 in the mating standby state, and the upper and lower wall portions 31a and 31b of the outer wall 31 are formed. Front end of front opening (end on the mating side of female connector housing 60)
Is formed with a tapered surface 31d for guiding the fitting of the female connector housing 60.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the cover 3
A pair of slits 33b, 33b are formed in the center of the rear side of both side walls 31c, 31c of the outer wall 31 of the "0", respectively. A flexible arm 25 of the holder 20 is provided between the pair of slits 33b, 33b. And a substantially U-shaped flexible locking piece (temporary locking means) 33 having a rectangular engaging hole (engaging portion) 33a which is locked to and released from the projection 25a. The width of each of the flexible locking pieces 33 is set to be larger than the width of the protrusion 25a of each of the flexible arms 25 of the holder 20, and each of the flexible locking pieces 33 is
0 both side walls 20c, 20c near each flexible arm 25
Can be freely contacted.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper portion of the outer wall 31 of the cover 30 and the center of the rear side of the lower wall portions 31a and 31b are provided with a flexible portion 34a having a convex portion 34a on the inner surface side. The stopper arm (stopper means) 34 is provided with a U-shaped slit 34.
Each of them is integrally formed with the interposition b. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 8, a pair of guide grooves 26, 26, and 27 of the holder 20 on the upper surface of the outer wall 31 of the cover 30 and on the outer surface of the lower wall 31a, 31b. , 27 and a pair of stopper projections 35a, 35a and 3
5b and 35b are integrally formed to protrude. The state in which each of the stopper projections 35a, 35b abuts and locks on the front wall portions 26a, 27a of each of the guide grooves 26, 27 of the holder 20 is a fitting standby state of the male connector housing 50. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front end of the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 is deeper than the outer wall 31, and the front side of the male connector housing 50 in the mating standby state is the outer wall 31.
It is designed to be exposed inside. As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of lever escape grooves 36a, 36a and 36b, 36b are formed on the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 and on both ends of the lower wall portions 32a, 32b, respectively. The lever 40 is disposed between the pair of lever escape grooves 36a, 36a and 36b, 36b. Further, a pair of rectangular guide grooves 37, 37 are formed on the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 and on both sides of the lower wall portions 32a, 32b, respectively. Further, upper and lower wall portions 32 of the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 are provided.
A pair of flexible arms (temporary locking means) 38 for temporarily locking the male connector housing 50 in the mating standby state inside the inner wall 32 are substantially inside the guide grooves 37a and 32b. It is formed integrally through a slit 39 having a letter shape.

Each of the flexible arms 38 has a V-shaped locking portion 38a at the tip thereof, and an inverted tapered surface (tapered surface) below the tapered surface 38b outside the locking portion 38a. 38
c is integrally formed. The reverse tapered surface 38c of the locking portion 38a of each flexible arm 38 is connected to the male connector housing 5 when the male connector housing 50 is in the fitting standby state.
0 taper surface 5 on the rear side of another stopper projection 56 described later.
6b. The upper side of the tapered surface 38b of the locking portion 38a of each flexible arm 38 is pressed by a temporary locking releasing convex portion 67 of the female connector housing 60 described later. As a result, each flexible arm 38 bends and deforms inward (in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 11A), and the inverted tapered surface 38c of the locking portion 38a of each flexible arm 38 and the male connector The tapered surface 56b on the rear side of the other stopper protrusion 56 of the housing 50
Is released from the temporary locking state.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, each lever 40 is formed of a synthetic resin into a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a pivot hole 42 is formed at the center of an arc-shaped base end portion 41 thereof. . As shown in FIG. 5, the inner wall 3 of the cover 30 is
The base end 41 of the lever 40 is rotatably supported by fitting a support shaft 36c protruding into each of the lever escape grooves 36a on the side of the upper wall 32a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the male connector housing 50 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by a synthetic resin, and a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 51 are formed between front and rear surfaces thereof. Each of the terminal housings 51 is electrically connected to each of the male terminals 63 of the female connector housing 60 (to be described later) when the two connector housings 50 and 60 are fitted together, so that electrical continuity between the two connector housings 50 and 60 is established. The female terminals (terminals) 52 to be achieved are respectively housed.
Each of the female terminals 52 is connected to a wire harness W shown in FIG.

At the front center of both side surfaces 50a, 50a of the male connector housing 50, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped guide portion (working point portion) 53 as a lever hook portion is integrally formed. On the rear side of each of the guide portions 53, an intermediate surface 43 side of the lever 40 slides to form an arc surface 53a serving as an action point of the lever 40. Further, a substantially trapezoidal lever push-out portion 54 is provided at the center of both side surfaces 50a, 50a of the male connector housing 50 so that the middle portion 43 of the lever 40 abuts and slides in the fitting standby state of the male connector housing 50. Each is integrally formed.

Further, on the male connector housing 50,
At the positions facing the respective guide grooves 37 on the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 on both sides of the lower surfaces 50b and 50c, stopper convex portions 55 that slide in the respective guide grooves 37 are integrally formed to protrude, respectively. Upper and lower surfaces 5 of connector housing 50
The other stopper protrusions temporarily locked to the locking portions 38a of the respective flexible arms 38 are provided at positions on the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 of the covers 30b, 50b and 50c so as to face the locking portions 38a of the respective flexible arms 38. Each of the portions 56 is integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, one of the stopper projections 5
5 is fixed to the front wall portion 37a of each guide groove 37 of the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 by abutment of the vertical front surface 55a.
The forward sliding of the male connector housing 50 is restricted. As shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b), a front tapered surface 56a inclined in the vertical direction is formed on the front side of the other stopper projection 56, and each of the other stopper projections is formed. At the position opposing the reverse tapered surface 38c of the locking portion 38a of each flexible arm 38 of the rear cover 56, a rear tapered surface inclined obliquely in the lateral direction and abutted and locked to each other. 56b are formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the female connector housing 60 has a plurality of male terminals (terminals) 63 exposed in a rectangular cylindrical hood portion 61 and between the L-shaped legs 62. And the hood portion 61 is connected to both connector housings 5.
The terminals 52 and 63 of the connector housings 50 and 60 are electrically connected to each other by being inserted between the outer wall 31 and the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 when the 0 and 60 are fitted.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a rectangular plate-shaped flexible arm 64 is integrally protruded from both legs 62 of the female connector housing 60 so as to be parallel to the side wall 61a of the hood 61. It is formed. The flexible arm 2 of the holder 20 is attached to the outer end of each flexible arm 64.
5 and a retaining means for retaining the provisionally locked state of the engagement holes 33a of the flexible locking pieces 33 of the cover 30; A projection (temporary lock holding / release means) which also serves as a release means for releasing the temporary lock state of the projection 25a of each flexible arm 25 and the engagement hole 33a of each flexible lock piece 33 of the cover 30. 65 are integrally formed. Each of the projections 65 is formed in a substantially triangular prism shape, and has a tapered surface (locking surface) 65a on the front side and a tapered surface (release surface) 65b on the rear side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 13 and 14, the upper and lower walls 61b and 61c of the female connector housing 60 are provided with two connector housings 50 at the front center thereof. When the fitting 60 is engaged, the respective stopper arms 34 are bent outwardly via the convex portions 34a inside the respective stopper arms 34 of the cover 30 to maintain the temporarily locked state of the holder 20 and the cover 30, and When the connector housings 50 and 60 are completely fitted, the projections (temporary locking holding / releasing means) 66 that go over the convex portions 34a of the stopper arms 34 of the cover 30 and release the temporary locking state between the holder 20 and the cover 30 are respectively provided. It is integrally formed. Each of the protrusions 66 is formed in a substantially triangular prism shape, and a front side thereof is a tapered surface (locking surface) 66a.
The rear side also has a tapered surface (separation surface) 66b.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 11 (c), each flexible arm of the cover 30 at the front end of the upper surface of the hood 61 of the female connector housing 60 and the inner surfaces of the lower walls 61b and 61c. 38 at a position facing the locking portion 38a,
Tapered surface 38b of locking portion 38a of each flexible arm 38
And a columnar temporary unlocking projection (temporary unlocking means) 67 that comes into contact with and separates from each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, ribs (engaging portions) 68 are integrally formed on both front sides of the inner surface of the lower wall 61c of the hood portion 61 of the female connector housing 60, respectively. At the upper end of the rear surface of each of the ribs 68, a projection 68a on which the distal end portion 44 side of the lever 40 slides is integrally formed. Each of the projections 68a is provided between the outer wall 31 and the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 so that the hood 6
When the female connector housing 60 is pulled into the male connector housing 50 by slidingly inserting the connector housing 50 and the connector housings 50 and 60 are fitted to each other, the distal end portion 44 side of the lever 40 slidably abuts and the lever 40 is It is a fulcrum. Further, a lever escape groove 69 is formed behind each rib 68 on the lower wall 61c of the hood portion 61.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 (c), the provisional release of the hood portion 61 of the female connector housing 60 at the upper end of the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 and at the front end of the lower wall portions 32a and 32b is released. At a position facing the convex portion 67, a concave portion 32d through which the convex portion 67 is inserted is formed. Also, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, both sides of the upper wall 20a of the holder 20 project upward in an inverted concave shape, and the upper wall side and the female connector housing 60 of the outer wall 31 and the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 facing the respective projecting portions 20e. Projecting portions 31e, 32e, 61 projecting upward in a reverse concave shape at a position on the upper wall side of the hood portion 61
e are formed respectively, so that erroneous assembly is prevented.

According to the connector 10 of the embodiment described above, when the male connector housing 50 side of the wire harness W is mounted in the mounting hole 12 of the inner panel 11 via the holder 20, the male connector housing 50 is covered with the cover 3.
0, and the cover 30 is temporarily locked in the holder 20 in the assembled state shown in FIG.
From the slanted state to the rear surface 11b of the inner panel 11.
The front fixing plate 2 of the holder 20 is inserted into the mounting hole 12 from the side.
2 is inserted, and the holder 20 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 to lock each end of each front fixing plate 22 on the front surface 11 a near the mounting hole 12 of the inner panel 11. As a result, each rear fixed plate portion 21 and each front fixed plate portion 22
Between the mounting hole 12 of the inner panel 11 and fixed. At the time of this mounting, the upper, lower, left and right alignment spring portions 23, 24 of the holder 20 abut against the inner edge of the mounting hole 12 of the inner panel 11, so that the holder 20 moves up, down, left, and right within the mounting hole 12. Even in this case, the centering is performed by the elastic force of each centering spring portion 24, and the fitting is securely fixed.

The male connector housing 50 side is attached to the holder 2
After the female connector housing 60 is mounted in the mounting hole 12 of the inner panel 11 through the male connector housing 50 in the fitting standby state. The fitting of the male and female connector housings 50 and 60 is described in FIGS.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 12 and 14, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, both connectors for inserting the hood portion 61 of the female connector housing 60 between the outer wall 31 and the inner wall 32 of the cover 30. In the initial state of the fitting of the housings 50 and 60, the fitting standby state of the male connector housing 50 is set in a state in which the projection 25 a of each flexible arm 25 of the holder 20 and the engagement hole of each flexible locking piece 33 of the cover 30. 33a, and the upper and lower pair of flexible arms 3 of the cover 30.
The pair of upper and lower stopper projections 56, 56 on the upper and lower sides of the male connector housing 50 and the male connector housing 38 are securely locked temporarily.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11 (a), when the male connector housing 50 is in the fitting standby state, the locking portions of the flexible arms 38 cantilevered on the inner wall 32 of the cover 30. The reverse tapered surface 38c of the male arm 38a and the tapered surface 56b on the rear side of the other stopper convex portion 56 of the male connector housing 50 abut against each other. Each tapered surface 38c,
Due to the presence of the 56b, the male connector housing 50 does not fall backward, and the temporary locking holding force of the male connector housing 50 in the cover 30 is sufficiently ensured. further,
As shown in FIG. 6, the front surface 55 a of each stopper projection 55 of the male connector housing 50 can be locked to the front wall portion 37 a of each guide groove 37 of the inner wall 32 of the cover 30. The male connector housing 50 does not jump forward. As a result, the cover 30 and the male connector housing 50 can be reliably prevented from coming off due to an external load force and the male connector housing 50 from falling obliquely inside the cover 30.

Then, both connector housings 50, 60
11a, the temporary locking release convex portions 67 of the hood portion 61 of the female connector housing 60 hit the tapered surfaces 38b of the locking portions 38a of the flexible arms 38 of the cover 30, and FIG. The respective flexible arms 38 bend in the directions shown by arrows in FIG. Thereby, the provisionally locked state of the reverse tapered surface 38c of the locking portion 38a of each flexible arm 38 of the cover 30 and the tapered surface 56b on the rear side of the other stopper convex portion 56 of the male connector housing 50 is released. The male connector housing 50 is slidable rearward within the inner wall 32 of the cover 30. During this sliding, each stopper projection 55 of the male connector housing 50 slides along each guide groove 37 of the inner wall 32 of the cover 30, so that the male connector housing 50 does not rattle in the left-right direction and the up-down direction. It moves smoothly backward in the cover 30.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12A, during the fitting of the two connector housings 50 and 60, the pressing force of the projections 65 of the flexible arms 64 of the female connector housing 60 causes The flexible locking pieces 33 are elastically deformed outward, and the engaging holes 33a of the flexible locking pieces 33 of the cover 30 contact the distal end surfaces of the flexible arms 25 of the holder 20, respectively. The protrusion 25a of each flexible arm 25 of the holder 20 and each flexible locking piece 33 of the cover 30
The provisionally locked state with the engagement hole 33a is more reliably maintained. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 13, each protrusion 66 of the female connector housing 60 rides on the convex portion 34a inside each flexible stopper arm 34 of the cover 30 and elastically deforms each stopper arm 34 outward. And the cover 3
The end of each of the flexible stopper arms 34 abuts against the front end 20d of the holder 20 to reliably prevent the cover 30 from being lowered rearward in the holder 20.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the fitting of the two connector housings 50 and 60 is completed, each projection 65 of the female connector housing 60 is engaged with each of the flexible locking pieces 33 of the cover 30. It enters the hole 33a. FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Gets over the convex portion 34a inside each flexible stopper arm 34 of the cover 30, so that each stopper arm 34
Returns to its original state. As a result, the two connector housings 50 and 60 that have been mated are connected as shown in FIG.
The inside of the cover 30 can be slid backward together. At the time of this sliding, each stopper projection 35a, 3
5b slides along the guide grooves 26 and 27 of the holder 20, so that the cover 30 smoothly moves rearward in the holder 20 without rattling in the left-right direction and the up-down direction.

The process from the initial connection state of the two connector housings 50 and 60 to the completed connection state will be described in relation to the lever 40. As shown in FIG. 15, the hood 61 of the female connector housing 60 is covered. 30 outer walls 31
Between the female connector housing 60 and the inner wall 32.
Is pushed in the fitting direction of the two connector housings 50 and 60, and as shown in FIG. 16, the distal end portion 44 side of the lever 40 becomes the rib 6 in the hood portion 61 of the female connector housing 60.
The lever 40 starts to rotate in contact with the projection 68a for the lever fulcrum of No. 8. When the female connector housing 60 is further pushed in the fitting direction as shown in FIG.
Lever action (the support shaft 36c that rotatably supports the base end 41 of the lever 40 is the point of force, the arc surface 53a of the guide portion 53 of the male connector housing 50 is the point of action, and the protrusion of the rib 68 of the female connector housing 60 is used. The hood portion 61 of the female connector housing 60 is drawn in between the outer wall 31 and the inner wall 32 of the cover 30 by the leverage with the fulcrum 68a as a fulcrum, and the two connector housings 50 and 60 are fitted to each other. As a result, with the lever action of the lever 40, the female connector housing 60 can be easily engaged with each other by simply sliding the female connector housing 60 in the fitting direction with a small operating force.

As described above, since the stopper projections 55 of the male connector housing 50 can be slid and stopped in the respective guide grooves 37 of the inner wall 32 of the cover 30, the male and female connector housings 50, 60 can be removed. Until the fitting is completed, the temporary locking holding force of the male connector housing 50 in the cover 30 can be improved, and the oblique lowering of the male connector housing 50 can be reliably prevented. Until the fitting of the male and female connector housings 50 and 60 is completed, the provisionally locked state of the cover 30 with respect to the holder 20 is determined by the protrusions 65 and
The flexible locking pieces 33 and the flexible stopper arms 34 of the holder 30 operated at 66 are securely held. Thus, it is possible to prevent poor connection or unfitting of the two connector housings 50, 60, and it is possible to easily and reliably fit the two connector housings 50, 60.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the stopper convex portion of one connector housing is slidable in the guide groove of the cover, the outer portion of the cover and the one connector housing can be removed. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the connector housing from falling off due to the target load force and obliquely lowering the one connector housing in the cover. As a result, it is possible to sufficiently secure the temporary locking and holding force of one of the connector housings in the cover until the fitting of the male and female connector housings is completed, and it is possible to prevent a poor connection or an unmated connection between the two connector housings. Thus, the connector housings can be fitted easily and securely.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the stopper protrusions are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of one of the connector housings, and the guide grooves are formed on the inner wall side of the cover facing the respective stopper protrusions. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent backlash in the left-right direction and the up-down direction when one of the connector housings slides in the cover,
One connector housing can be slid smoothly along each guide groove of the cover.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector before fitting.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state immediately before fitting of the connector in a partial cross section.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the male and female connector housings constituting the connector on the male connector housing side.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the male connector housing.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the male connector housing.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a cover used for the connector.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the cover.

11 (a) is an explanatory view of a provisional locking state of a main part of the connector as viewed from a plane side, FIG. 11 (b) is an explanatory view of a main locking state of a main part of the connector as viewed from a plane side, (C) is the explanatory view which looked at the state of temporary lock and main lock of the important section of the connector from the front side.

FIG. 12A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector is in the process of being fitted, and FIG. 12B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector is completely fitted.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the connector is being fitted.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fitted state of the connector.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before fitting of the connector.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the connector is being fitted.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the fitting of the connector is completed.

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the connector is slid rearward for centering after completion of fitting of the connector.

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of the prior art connector immediately before fitting.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a slide cover used in the connector of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 30 Cover 32 Inner wall 37 Guide groove 40 Lever 41 Base end part 43 Middle part 44 End part 50 Male connector housing (one connector housing) 50b Upper surface 50c Lower surface 53 Guide part (action point part) 55 Stopper convex part 60 Female connector Housing (other connector housing) 68 Rib (engagement part)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector housing of one of a male and a female connector housing is slidably provided in a cover so as to be reciprocally slidable, and a base end portion of a lever which is rotated by the reciprocation of the one connector housing is rotated on the cover. The connector is freely supported, and the middle part of the lever is linked to the action point of the one connector housing, and the tip end of the lever is engaged with the other connector housing when the two connector housings are fitted. Wherein the cover is formed to have a size that completely covers the one connector housing in the fitting standby state, and a guide groove is formed on an inner wall side of the cover. A connector provided with a stopper convex portion which slides in the guide groove at a position facing the guide groove of one connector housing. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the stopper projections are provided on both upper and lower sides of the one connector housing, respectively, and on the inner wall side of the cover facing the respective stopper projections. A connector, wherein each of the guide grooves is formed.