Connector for a flat cable

A connector has a plurality of terminals aligned in a left/right direction, and a housing that configures a space in which a flat cable can be inserted from a front side to a rear side and holds the terminals on an inside of the space. The housing has two locking convex portions positioned on the inside of the space and in the left/right direction of the terminals, protruding toward an upper side from a lower side, and that catch in notches or holes formed in the left and right sides of the cable. Finally, the housing has a biasing member that is positioned on the inside of the space, formed on an upper side of the space, arranged closer to a center in the left/right direction than the two locking convex portions, and that biases the cable inserted in the space toward a lower side of the space.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2016-213289, filed Oct. 31, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a connector.

BACKGROUND ART

A connector that can be attached to an end part of a flat cable is disclosed in Patent Document 1 described below. The connector described in Patent Document 1 is mounted on a circuit board and electrically connects a flat cable and a circuit board. A plurality of terminals are held, and a space for inserting an end part of the flat cable is provided in a housing (connector body 10 in Patent Document 1) that configures the connector described in Patent Document 1. By inserting a slider (a pressing member in Patent Document 1) on the flat cable inserted inside the space, the end part of the flat cable is pushed against contact points of the terminals, and thus the flat cable and the terminals are electrically connected. Furthermore, two locking convex portions (locking parts 15 in Patent Document 1) protruding along a height direction of the connector are formed inside the space provided inside the connector. The two locking convex portions are positioned to the left and to the right of the plurality of terminals, and each catches in a notch formed in a width direction of the flat cable. Here, a biasing member biases the end part of the flat cable in the directions of the locking convex portions, which thus prevents the flat cable from being pulled out.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2006-252975

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the connector described in Patent Document 1, a worker may not be able to recognize that the end part of the flat cable has been inserted in a proper position (more specifically, in a position where the notches on the cable are catching in the locking convex portions of the housing) immediately after the flat cable is inserted. Therefore, the worker could possibly insert the biasing member in a state where the fit between the flat cable and the connector is incomplete (a so-called semi-fitted state).

An object of the present disclosure is to make it easy for a worker to recognize whether a flat cable and a connector are fitted together when inserting a flat cable.

The connector according to the present disclosure has a plurality of terminals aligned in a left to right direction, and a housing formed with a space into which a flat cable can be inserted from a front side to a rear side, and which supports the plurality of terminals, where the housing has a left side locking convex portion positioned on the left side of the plurality of terminals protruding from a lower side to an upper side into which a locking portion formed on the left side of the flat cable catches, a right side locking convex portion positioned on the right side of the plurality of terminals protruding from a lower side to an upper side into which a locking portion formed on the right side of the flat cable catches, and a guide portion protruding from an upper side to a lower side and positioned between the two locking convex portions for guiding the flat cable inserted in the space downward. This enables a worker to easily recognize whether the flat cable and the connector are fitted together.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, a slanted surface extending obliquely in a rearward and downward direction is formed on the guide portion.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, the guide portion is positioned further rearward than the two locking convex portions.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, a first slanted surface extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a front side of the housing, and a second slanted surface extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a front side of the locking convex portion.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, a contact that comes into contact with the flat cable inserted in the space is formed on the terminal, and the contact is positioned further rearward than that the second slanted surface formed in the locking convex portion.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, a slanted surface extending obliquely upward and to the left is formed in a right side surface of the left side locking convex portion, and a slanted surface extending upward and to the right is formed in a left side surface of the right side locking convex portion.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, the connector also has a slider positioned on a front side of the housing, where the slider is positioned farther frontward than a front side of the space and has a hole through which the flat cable is inserted, a pressing portion that configures an upper side edge of the hole, and a guide portion positioned farther downward than the pressing portion that configures lower side and front side edges of the hole.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, the pressing portion has a pressing surface that abuts the flat cable and presses the flat cable downward, and two adjacent surfaces positioned on a right side and on a left side, respectively, of the pressing surface and farther upward than the pressing surface, where the two adjacent surfaces are positioned farther upward than the tops of the two locking convex portions.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, a first slanted surface extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a front side of the housing, a second slanted surface extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a front side of the locking convex portion of the housing, and a third slanted surface extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a rear side of the pressing portion of the slider, where the flat cable is inserted on an inside of the space passing between a space between the first slanted surface and the third slanted surface and a space between the second slanted surface and the third slanted surface.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the connector, an outer surface concave portion having a cavity and an outer surface convex portion that fits in the cavity in the outer surface concave portion are formed on an outer surface on a front side of the housing and an outer surface of the slider, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The connector1according to the present embodiment is described below with reference toFIG. 1throughFIG. 11.FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating the connector1and the flat cable9according to the present embodiment.FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating a case where the connector1and a slider3are slid to a front side.FIG. 3is an exploded view of the connector1.FIG. 4is a view illustrating a cross section along line IV-IV inFIG. 2, and, in particular, a view illustrating a lower side of the connector1.FIG. 5is a view illustrating a cross section along line V-V inFIG. 2, and, in particular, a view illustrating an upper side of the connector1.FIG. 6is a view illustrating the flat cable9inserted in the connector1.FIG. 7is an elevation view of the connector1.FIG. 8is a rear view of the connector1.FIG. 9is a view illustrating a cross section along line IX-IX inFIG. 7, and a view illustrating a center cross section in a left to right direction of the connector1.FIG. 10is a view illustrating a cross section along line X-X inFIG. 7, and, in particular, a view illustrating a cross section from the right of the connector1.FIG. 11is a view illustrating a cross section of the connector1in the position illustrated inFIG. 9, and a view illustrating a case where a slider3has been slid forward. Furthermore,FIG. 11illustrates a case where the flat cable9is inserted inside a housing2, and a case where the cable is inserted inside a hole S1formed in the slider3.

In all of the drawings, the insertion direction (direction illustrated by X1) of the flat cable9inserted into the connector1is frontward, and the direction opposite (direction illustrated by X2) the insertion direction is rearward. Furthermore, the directions illustrating a width of the flat cable9(directions illustrated by Y1and Y2) are the left direction and the right direction, respectively. Furthermore, the directions illustrating a thickness of the flat cable9(directions illustrated by Z1and Z2) are upward and downward, respectively. Note that directions are only used to describe the relative positional relationships of the parts that configure the connector1, and thus do not illustrate absolute directions.

The connector1according to the present embodiment is a connector that enables the insertion of a flat cable9along an extending direction thereof. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the connector1is formed into a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape, and the flat cable9is inserted inside thereof. The flat cable9may be, for example, a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) or a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC).

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the connector1has a housing2and a slider3positioned on a front side of the housing2. The housing2and the slider3may be formed using a material having insulating properties, such as resin, and the like.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the housing2has a space S2open in a front surface of the housing2. The flat cable9is inserted from a front side to a rear side in the space S2of the housing2. Furthermore, the space S2is formed wider in a left to right direction than the flat cable9. The space S2is formed in a center in a left to right direction of the housing2.

As illustrated inFIG. 3,FIG. 8,FIG. 9, andFIG. 11, the housing2has an upper wall21configuring an upper surface of the housing2, a low wall22configuring a bottom surface thereof, and a rear wall23configuring a rear surface thereof. Here, a space between the upper wall21and the lower wall22is the space S2into which the flat cable9is inserted.

As illustrated inFIG. 4,FIG. 9, andFIG. 11, a slanted surface222extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a lower side edge of the space S2of the housing2. The slanted surface222is formed on a front side of the housing2. For example, the slanted surface222is formed on a front surface221of the lower wall22, and is connected to an upper surface223. As illustrated inFIG. 11, a tip of the flat cable9abuts the slanted surface222formed in the housing2, and is thus guided toward an inside of the space S2.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the housing2holds a plurality of terminals4. The terminals4are formed using a conductive material, such as a metal. Furthermore, the terminals4are inserted aligned along a left to right direction in the space S2of the housing2. A groove224is formed in the lower wall22of the housing2, and the terminals4are arranged on an inside of the groove224.

As illustrated inFIG. 9andFIG. 11, the terminal4that is inserted in the space S2of the housing2has a connecting portion41that is positioned on a rear and lower end of the housing2and connects to a circuit board not illustrated in the figures, a strut portion42that extends upward from the connecting portion41, an upper arm43that extends frontward from an upper side of the strut portion42, a first lower arm44that is positioned farther downward than the upper arm43and extends frontward from the strut portion42, and a second lower arm45that is positioned between the upper arm43and the first lower arm44and extends frontward from the strut portion42. The first and second lower arms44and45are formed so as to be able to bend elastically downward. Furthermore, a space between the upper arm43and the first and second lower arms44and45of the terminal4may be the space S2into which the flat cable9is inserted. A tab portion431that catches in the rear wall23of the housing2is formed in a space between a front end and a rear end of the arm43.

Furthermore, a first slanted surface441extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a front end of the first lower arm44of the terminal4, and a second slanted surface451extending obliquely rearward and upward and positioned rearward of the first slanted surface441is formed on a front end of the second lower arm45. Contacts49aand49bthat make contact with a lower side of the flat cable9are provided on an upper end of the first slanted surface441and an upper end of the second slanted surface451, respectively. The contact49bis provided farther rearward than the contact49a, and the contacts49aand49bare arranged farther rearward than the slanted surface222formed in the lower wall22of the housing2. Furthermore, the contacts49aand49bare arranged in the same positions in a vertical direction, and are arranged farther upward (for example, on an outside of the groove224formed on the lower wall22) than the upper surface223of the lower wall22.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, a plurality of holes S4are formed aligned in a left to right direction in the rear wall23of the housing2. The holes S4are connected to the space S2, and the plurality of terminals4are inserted into the plurality of holes S4aligned facing from a rear side to a front side.

As illustrated inFIG. 4,FIG. 10, andFIG. 11, two locking convex portions25(L) and25(R), which are protrusions for locking the flat cable9, are formed on a lower side of the space S2of the housing2. The locking convex portions25(L) and25(R) are formed in the upper surface223of the lower wall22of the housing2. The locking convex portions25(L) and25(R) are formed so as to protrude toward an upper side of the space2from a lower side thereof. The locking convex portion25(L) is positioned on a left side with respect to the plurality of terminals4aligned left to right, and the locking convex portion25(R) is positioned on a right side with respect to the plurality of terminals4.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 6, engaging portions90(L) and90(R) having either a notch, a cavity, or a hole, are formed to the left and right of the flat cable9. The engaging portion90(L) is formed on a left side of the flat cable9, and the engaging portion90(R) is formed on a right side of the flat cable9. The following description assumes that the engaging portion90(L) formed on the left side has a notch91(L) and an edge portion92(L) on a front side of the notch, and that the engaging portion90(R) formed on the right side has a notch91(R) and an edge portion92(R) on a front side of the notch.

The engaging portions90(L) and90(R) formed on the left side and the right side of the flat cable9catch in the left and right locking convex portions25(L) and25(R). For example, the left and right locking convex portions25(L) and25(R) fit into the left and right notches91(L) and91(R) of the flat cable9illustrated inFIG. 6, and may be made to catch in the front side edges92(L) and92(R). Note that in the following description, the left and right locking convex portions25(L) and25(R) are referred to simply as the convex portion25. Furthermore, the left and right engaging portions90(L) and90(R) are referred to simply as the engaging portion90, the left and right notches91(L) and91(R) are referred to simply as the notch91, and the edge portions92(L) and92(R) on the front sides of the notches91(L) and91(R) are referred to simply as the edge portion92.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 4, a slanted surface252extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed on a front surface251of the locking convex portion25. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 4, a slanted surface253(L) extending obliquely upward and to the left is formed on a right side surface of the left side locking convex portion25(L), and a slanted surface253(R) extending obliquely upward and to the right is formed on a left side surface of the right side locking convex portion25(R). Furthermore, in the cross-sectional view illustrated inFIG. 11, the slanted surface252of the locking convex portion25is positioned on an extension line of the slanted surface222formed in the lower wall22of the housing2. That is, the slanted surface222of the lower wall22and the slanted surface252of the locking convex portion25are formed on the same plane. Furthermore, a rear surface255of the locking convex portion25extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the upper surface223of the lower wall22of the housing2. Furthermore, a top portion254of the locking convex portion25is formed farther upward than the contacts49aand49bof the terminal4.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, in a process for inserting the flat cable9on the inside of the space S2, the edge portion92(L) on the front side of the notch91(L) on the left side and the edge portion92(R) on the front side of the notch91(R) on the right side ride up on the locking convex portions25(L) and25(R) formed on the right side and the left side in the space S2of the housing2. As was described above, the slanted surface252extending obliquely upward and rearward is formed in the front surface251of the locking convex portion25. Therefore, the front end of the flat cable9advances along the slanted surface252, and the edge portion92of the flat cable9is made to easily ride up on the locking convex portion25. Furthermore, the slanted surface252of the locking convex portion25is formed on the same plane as the slanted surface222of the lower wall22. Therefore, a front end including the edge portion92of the flat cable9is able to advance smoothly from the front surface of the housing2toward the locking convex portion25. Additionally, the top portion254of the locking convex portion25is formed farther upward than the contacts49aand49bof the terminal4. Therefore, the edge portion92of the flat cable9is able ride up on the locking convex portion25while contact between the flat cable9and the contacts49aand49bis prevented.

As illustrated inFIG. 5,FIG. 9, andFIG. 11, a first guide portion26, which is a part for guiding the flat cable9toward the lower side of the space S2is formed in the upper side of the space S2of the housing2. The first guide portion26is formed on the upper wall21of the housing2. The first guide portion is formed so as to protrude from the upper side toward the lower side of the space S2. Furthermore, the first guide portion26is arranged between the left side locking convex portion25(L) and the right side locking convex portion25(R). In other words, the first guide portion26is provided in a position farther to the center of the housing2in the left to right direction than the two convex portions25(L) and25(R). Furthermore, the first guide portion26is formed between, of the plurality of terminals4aligned in the left to right direction, the terminal4on a left end and the terminal4on a right end. The first guide portion26is formed between two adjacent terminals4. In the example illustrated inFIG. 5, the first guide portion26is formed between adjacent terminals4aand4band between terminals4band4cnear the center of the housing2.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, the first guide portion26is positioned farther rearward than the two locking convex portions25. For example, the locking convex portion25is formed near a front edge of the space S2, and the first guide portion26is formed near a rear edge of the space S2. The first guide portion26is formed farther rearward than the contacts49aand49bof the terminal4, and is connected to a front surface231of the rear wall23. Furthermore, a slanted surface261extending obliquely rearward and downward is formed on the first guide portion26. The slanted surface261is connected to the upper wall21of the housing2and to a lower edge262of the first guide portion26.

The flat cable9, which is raised up by riding up on the locking convex portions25(L) and25(R), in a position between the two locking convex portions25(L) and25(R) in the left and right direction thereof, abuts the slanted surface261of the first guide portion26, and is thus guided along the slanted surface261extending obliquely rearward and downward. Therefore, the flat cable9is arranged on a lower side of the first guide portion26. Additionally, because the flat cable9is guided downward by the first guide portion26in this way, the flat cable9is elastically deformed in a state where the left and right ends thereof are lifted up on an upward side. Here, as illustrated inFIG. 4, slanted surfaces253(L) and253(R) extending obliquely upward left and right are formed on inner surfaces of the left and right locking convex portions25(L) and25(R). By forming a slanted surface25S on the side surface of the locking convex portion25in this way, contact between the flat cable9and sharp places on the inside of the housing2is avoided, which makes it possible to prevent scratching of the flat cable9when the flat cable9moves frontward and backward.

Furthermore, by pushing the flat cable9further rearward from a state where the flat cable9is riding up on the locking convex portion25, the locking convex portion25of the housing2fits into the notch91of the flat cable9, and the engaging portion90of the flat cable9catches in the locking convex portion25. Here, by returning the flat cable9from a state of being elastically deformed to an original state, the cable will hit an edge (for example, the lower wall22) of the space S2of the housing2. Because a noise is created at this time, a worker can easily recognize that the engaging portion90of the flat cable9has caught on the locking convex portion25, and that the flat cable9and the connector1are thus fitted together.

Note that while the example illustrated inFIG. 5describes a case where the first guide portion26is formed between two adjacent terminals4near the center of the housing2, the guide portion is not limited to this, and that the first guide portion26may thus be formed between the two locking convex portions25(L) and25(R). For example, the first guide portion26may be formed in a position closer to one or both of the left and right locking convex portions25than illustrated inFIG. 5. In this manner, the raising angle at which the edge portion92of the flat cable9raises becomes steeper than that illustrated inFIG. 6, which increases the noise caused when the engaging portion90of the flat cable9catches in the locking convex portion25. That is, it becomes even easier for a worker to recognize that the flat cable9and the connector1are fitted together.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the edge portion92of the flat cable9is inserted farther rearward than the rear surface255of the locking convex portion25. Here, the flat cable9can be prevented from being pulled out because the edge portion92of the flat cable9catches on the rear surface255of the locking convex portion25when the flat cable9is pulled frontward.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the flat cable9is inserted inside the space S2of the housing2to a position where the front end of the flat cable9hits the front surface231of the rear wall23. When the flat cable9is inserted inside the space S2, the front end of the flat cable9is positioned between the lower wall22of the housing2and the lower edge262of the first guide portion26in a vertical direction. The vertical movement of the flat cable9can be regulated and the engaging portion90of the flat cable9can be prevented from being separated from the locking convex portion25because the front end of the flat cable9is positioned in the lower side of the first guide portion26.

Note that a concavity or a hole may be formed in the engaging portion90of the flat cable9in place of forming the notch91illustrated inFIG. 6. In this case, after the front edge of the concavity or the hole of the flat cable9rides up on the locking convex portion25, the locking convex portion25fits inside the concavity of the hole of the flat cable9.

Furthermore, the locking convex portion25and the first guide portion26arranged inside the space S2of the housing2may be formed integrally with the housing2using, for example, a resin material. This makes it possible to scratch the flat cable9less than in a case where at least one of the locking convex portion25or the first guide portion26is formed using a metal material.

As was described above, the connector1has the slider3positioned on the front side of the housing2. As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the slider3is moved forward in a state of being fitted with the housing2. More specifically, the slider3is made such that the slider3is able to slide between a first position (seeFIG. 1) fitted with the housing2and a second position (seeFIG. 2) separated farther forward than the first position. Here, the slider3, when in the first position, presses the flat cable9in the direction of where the contacts49aand49bof the terminal4are positioned, and releases the pressing with respect to the flat cable9when in the second position.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, a hole S1, through which the flat cable9is pressed, is formed in the slider3. The hole S1in slider3is arranged farther forward than the space S2formed in the housing2. The hole S1is formed in the center of the slider3in the left to right direction, and the slider3passes therethrough along a front to rear direction. The flat cable9is inserted inside the hole S1from the front side of the slider3, and then the flat cable9can be housed in the space S2of the housing2.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, a front surface31of the slider3is formed wider in the left to right direction than the housing2. Forming the front surface31of the slider3wide in this way increases a contact surface between the slider3and a finger of a worker, making the slider3easy to operate.

As illustrated inFIG. 2,FIG. 3, andFIG. 11, the slider3has a pressing portion32and a second guide portion33extending in the front to rear direction. Here, the pressing portion32configures an upper side of the hole S1. Furthermore, the second guide portion33is positioned farther downward than the pressing portion32, and thus configures an edge of a lower side of the hole S1.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, a slanted surface331extending obliquely upward and rearward is formed on an upper surface of the second guide portion33formed on the lower side of the slider3. Because the front end of the flat cable9abuts the slanted surface331of the second guide portion33, the cable is guided toward the inside of the hole S1. That is, the flat cable9is guided toward a direction where the space S2of the housing2is positioned.

As illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 11, an edge on the upper side of the hole S1formed in the slider3is positioned farther rearward than a downward edge. That is, the second guide portion33is positioned farther forward than the pressing portion32. This allows an operator to observe the second guide portion33from above the connector1, which makes it possible to insert the flat cable9with the second guide portion33in full view. Because the front end of the flat cable9inserted obliquely from in front and above the connector1hits the slanted surface331of the second guide portion33, a direction of advance thereof is corrected so as to be guided inside the hole S1.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, in addition to the flat cable9, the slider3is inserted is also inserted in the space S2of the housing2. The pressing portion32of the slider3is inserted below the upper wall21of the housing2, and above the flat cable9inserted into the space S2. The pressing portion32is inserted between, for example, the upper arm43and the first and second lower arms44and45of the terminal4.

Furthermore, a pressing surface325that abuts the flat cable9and presses the flat cable9downward is formed in the pressing portion32of the slider3. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the pressing surface325covers the two contacts49aand49bformed in the terminal from above when the slider3is arranged in the first position fitted with the housing2. Here a distance between the contact49aand the pressing surface325and a distance between the contact49band the pressing surface325are made narrower than the thickness of the flat cable9. Therefore, inserting the pressing portion32of the slider3presses the flat cable9and the contacts49aand49bdownward. Furthermore, a force acts upon the first and second lower arms44and45in which the contacts49aand49bare provided such that said arms recover from shapes where they are elastically bent downward to their original shapes. That is, a contact pressure between the lower side of the flat cable9and the contacts49aand49bis sustained, and thus the cable and the contacts can be brought into actual contact.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the hole S1, through which the slider3passes in a front and rear direction, is put in a state where the left and right edges of said hole are raised up. Here, in addition to the pressing surface325, two adjacent surfaces326(L) and326(R), positioned on a left side and a right side, respectively, of the pressing surface325and farther upward than the pressing surface325, are also formed in the pressing portion32of the slider3. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the two adjacent surfaces326(L),326(R) can extend horizontally along the front and back direction, and extend to the opening of the hole S1. Furthermore, when the slider3is arranged in the first position, the adjacent surfaces326(L) and326(R) cover the locking convex portions25(L) and25(R) formed to the left and right of the housing2. The adjacent surface326is arranged in a position separated upward from the top portion254of the locking convex portion25.

By moving the slider3into the second position and thus bending the flat cable9into a shape where the left and right ends of the flat cable9are raised upward, a worker can raise the engaging portion90(for example, the edge portion92illustrated inFIG. 6) of the flat cable9, separate the locking convex portion25of the housing2from the engaging portion90, and then pull the flat cable9from the connector1. Here, because the adjacent surface326is arranged in a position separated upward from the top portion254of the locking convex portion25, a worker can bend the flat cable9into a shape where the left and right ends of the flat cable9are raised comparatively easily.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 11, a slanted surface327, connected to the pressing surface325on the lower side and extending obliquely rearward and upward, is formed on a rear side of the pressing portion32of the slider3. When the pressing portion32of the slider3is positioned farther forward than the space S2of the housing2(for example, when the slider3is in the second position), the flat cable9is inserted into the space S2passing between the slanted surface222formed in the lower wall22of the housing2and the slanted surface327of the slider3and between the slanted surface252formed in the locking convex portion25and the slanted surface327of the slider3. Because the slanted surface327is formed on a rear surface of the pressing portion32in this way, it is possible to keep the front end of the flat cable9advancing obliquely upward along the slanted surfaces222and252of the housing2from hitting the rear surface of the pressing portion32.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 9, a slanted surface328, connected to an upper surface329of the slider3and extending obliquely rearward and downward, is formed on a rear surface of the pressing portion32of the slider3. When the slider3is in the first position fitted with the housing2and the pressing portion32is thus inserted into the space S2of the housing2, the slanted surface328of the slider3is arranged below slanted surface261of the first guide portion26formed in the housing2. Because the pressing portion32of the slider3is added to the front side of the space S2formed in the housing2and also enters below the first guide portion26formed in the rear side of the space S2, the connector1can be miniaturized in the front and rear direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 1throughFIG. 3, an outer concave portion211having a cavity is formed on an outer surface of the front side of the housing2. Furthermore, an outer convex portion321that fits in the cavity of the outer concave portion211is formed in an outer surface of the slider3. The outer convex portion321protrudes toward an outer side from an edge of the hole S1formed in the front surface31of the slider3. For example, the outer concave portion211is formed in a front surface of the upper wall21, and the outer convex portion321is formed so as to protrude toward an upper side from a front end of the pressing portion32. Note that the outer concave portion211and the outer convex portion321are formed positioned in the center of the connector1in the left to right direction, where the outer concave portion211is formed between portions protruding on a front side positioned in the center of the upper wall21in the left to right direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, when the slider3is in the first position fitted with the housing2, the outer convex portion321fits in the inside of the outer concave portion211. Therefore, a worker can easily and intuitively see that, in the first position, the slider3is fitted in the housing2. Furthermore, the outer convex portion321extends upward so as to reach the upper surface of the housing2. Therefore, a worker can easily and intuitively see that the flat cable9cannot be inserted in a gap generated between the slider3and the housing2in the vertical direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, a front surface221formed between the left and right locking convex portions25protrudes toward a front side with respect to the front surface251of the locking convex portion25in the lower wall22of the housing2. Furthermore, the second guide portion33formed in the slider3is concave so as to correspond to a shape where the lower wall22of the housing2protrudes toward the front side.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the slider3has, in addition to the pressing portion32and the second guide portion33described above, two extended portions34(L) and34(R) extending in a rearward direction from a rear side of the front surface31. The extended portion34(L) formed on the left side of the slider3configures an edge on the right side of the hole S1, and the extended portion34(R) formed on the right side of the slider3configures an edge on the right side of the hole S1. The left and right extended portions34(L) and34(R) are connected to the pressing portion32by an upper end and to the second guide portion33by a lower end.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, in addition to the flat cable9and the pressing portion32of the slider3, the two extended portions34(L) and34(R) are also inserted into the space S2of the housing2. The left side extended portion34(L) is inserted on a left side of the left side locking convex portion25(L), and the right side extended portion34(R) is inserted on a right side of the right side locking convex portion25(R), respectively. Because the extended portions34(L) and34(R) of the slider3are inserted into the space S2of the housing2in this way, it is possible to suppress any vertical direction and left to right direction rattling of the slider3.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the slider3has two arms35(L) and35(R) extending rearward from the rear side of the front surface31of the slider3. The arm35(L) is formed on a left side of the left side extended portion34(L), and the arm35(R) is formed on a right side of the right side extended portion34(R). The left and right arms35(L) and35(R) are formed so as to be symmetrical in the left to right direction.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 4, two holes S3for housing the left and right arms35(L) and35(R) of the slider3are formed on a right side and a left side with respect to the space S2of the housing2. The holes S3penetrate through the housing2in the front to rear direction. Furthermore, a gap through which a retainer5can be inserted is formed between the space S2and the hole S3of the housing2.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the retainer5has a connecting portion51that connects to a circuit board not illustrated in the figure, a strut portion52extending upward from an edge of the connecting portion51, an arm53that extends rearward from an upper side of the strut portion52and has a tab-shaped portion that catches in the housing2, and a spring portion54that extends in the front and rear direction on a lower side of the arm53and bends to the left and to the right. A left side retainer5(L) inserted in the left side hole S3and a right side retainer5(R) inserted in the right side hole S3are formed so as to be symmetrical in the left to right direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, two convex portions351and352placed aligned with a distance therebetween in the front and rear direction are formed on a left side surface of the left side arm35(L) and on a right side surface of the right side arm35(R) of the slider3, and a side wall portion28extending in the vertical direction of the housing2fits in a cavity between these two convex portions. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the slider3from being pulled out or removed when the slider3is arranged in the second position (seeFIG. 2). Furthermore, a convex portion353is provided on a side that is opposite the side in which the convex portions351and352of the slider3are formed. Because a portion that bends in the left to right direction in the spring portion54of the retainer5abuts the convex portion353of the slider3, it is possible to prevent the slider3from being pulled out or removed when the slider3is arranged in the first position fitted with the housing2.

As has been described above, the left and right locking convex portions25and the first guide portion26are formed in the housing2that configures the connector1according to the present disclosure. After riding up on the left and right locking convex portions25, the flat cable9is arranged rearward of the locking convex portions25. At this time, because the flat cable9returns to the original shape thereof from a shape where the cable was elastically bent, the cable hits the lower wall22of the housing2. Because a noise is created at this time, it is easy for a worker to recognize that the engaging portion90of the flat cable9has caught on the locking convex portion25, and that the flat cable9and the connector1are thus fitted together. Therefore, semi-fitting between the flat cable9and the connector1can be prevented.

Note that the present disclosure according to the present specification is only one example, and thus any appropriate change that preserves the gist of the present disclosure and can easily be conceived by a person skilled in the art is within the scope of the present disclosure. Finally, the widths, thicknesses, and shapes of the portions illustrated in the drawing are illustrated schematically and are not intended to limit the interpretation of the present disclosure.