CONNECTOR

A connector is connectable to a mating connector in a front-rear direction and provided with a housing. An upper wall portion of the housing is provided with a lock arm long in the front-rear direction and coupled to the upper wall portion. A pair of protection walls are provided to extend upward from the upper wall portion on both end parts in a lateral direction of a rear part of the upper wall portion. An operating portion to be pressed to deflect and deform the lock arm downward is provided on an upper side of a rear part of the lock arm. A right end part of the operating portion projects further rightward than a right end part of the lock arm and a left end part of the operating portion projects further leftward than a left end part of the lock arm.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a connector.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a connector described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2000-182708 (Patent Document 1 below) is known. This connector includes a cantilevered lock arm extending in a front-rear direction on the upper surface of a housing body. The lock arm holds both housings in a connected state at the time of a connecting operation of the connectors. In separating the both housings, the holding in the connected state can be released by deflecting the lock arm downward. Further, wall-like ribs are provided to sandwich the lock arm on both left and right sides of the lock arm. The ribs protect the lock arm and suppress the entrance of external matters into a space between the lock arm and the upper surface of the housing body.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP 2000-182708 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved

However, due to the above configuration, the lock arm may become small and operability in releasing the connection of the connector may be impaired when the connector is miniaturized. Further, if the connector is miniaturized, intervals between the lock arm and the ribs also become narrower. Thus, the connector has to be manufactured using mold parts having an elongated shape to provide gaps between the lock arm and the ribs, and it becomes difficult to ensure the strength of the mold parts.

Means to Solve the Problem

A connector of the present disclosure is connectable to a mating connector in a front-rear direction and provided with a housing, an upper wall portion of the housing being provided with a lock arm long in the front-rear direction and coupled to the upper wall portion, a pair of protection walls being provided to extend upward from the upper wall portion on both end parts in a lateral direction of a rear part of the upper wall portion, an operating portion to be pressed to deflect and deform the lock arm downward being provided on an upper side of a rear part of the lock arm, a right end part of the operating portion projecting further rightward than a right end part of the lock arm and a left end part of the operating portion projecting further leftward than a left end part of the lock arm, and a lower end part of the operating portion being disposed at the same height position as upper end parts of the pair of protection walls or at a position higher than the upper end parts.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector excellent in operability of connection release and easily manufacturable even if the connector is miniaturized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION

Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure

First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described.(1) The connector of the present disclosure is connectable to a mating connector in a front-rear direction and provided with a housing, an upper wall portion of the housing being provided with a lock arm long in the front-rear direction and coupled to the upper wall portion, a pair of protection walls being provided to extend upward from the upper wall portion on both end parts in a lateral direction of a rear part of the upper wall portion, an operating portion to be pressed to deflect and deform the lock arm downward being provided on an upper side of a rear part of the lock arm, a right end part of the operating portion projecting further rightward than a right end part of the lock arm and a left end part of the operating portion projecting further leftward than a left end part of the lock arm, and a lower end part of the operating portion being disposed at the same height position as upper end parts of the pair of protection walls or at a position higher than the upper end parts.

According to this configuration, even if the connector is minimized, the size of the operating portion can be ensured and a connection releasing operation of the connector and the mating connector is easily performed. Further, it is not necessary to narrow intervals between the pair of protection walls and the lock arm, and the strength of mold parts used in manufacturing the connector can be ensured.(2) Preferably, a rear end part of the lock arm and rear end parts of the pair of protection walls are coupled by a pair of coupling portions.

According to this configuration, a reaction force of the deflection and deformation of the lock arm can be improved and a connected state of the connector and the mating connector is easily maintained.(3) Preferably, a rear end part of the operating portion is disposed at the same position as a rear end part of the lock arm in the front-rear direction.

According to this configuration, the operating portion can be made larger and the connection releasing operation is easily performed.(4) Preferably, a front end part of the operating portion is disposed forward of front end parts of the pair of protection walls, and inclined portions inclined to reduce a height from the upper wall portion toward a front side are provided on front parts of the pair of protection walls.

According to this configuration, since the lock arm can be deflected and deformed by pushing down the operating portion along the inclined portions, the connection releasing operation is easily performed. Further, excessive deflection and deformation of the lock arm can be suppressed.(5) Preferably, the housing includes a pair of side wall portions disposed on both left and right sides of the upper wall portion, and the pair of side wall portions include recesses set to have a thinner wall thickness and formed by being recessed inwardly of the housing.

According to this configuration, the amount of synthetic resin used in the connector can be reduced, and the formation of voids during molding can be suppressed.(6) Preferably, a through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction is provided in a front end part of the lock arm.

According to this configuration, the amount of synthetic resin used in the connector can be reduced, and the formation of voids during molding can be suppressed.(7) Preferably, the housing includes a pair of side wall portions disposed on both left and right sides of the upper wall portion, one of the pair of protection walls is a first protection wall and the other is a second protection wall, out of the pair of side wall portions, the side wall portion located on the side of the first protection wall is a first side wall portion and the side wall portion located on the side of the second protection wall is a second side wall portion, a projection dimension of the first protection wall from the first side wall portion is larger than a projection dimension of the second protection wall from the second side wall portion, and the first protection wall and the first side wall portion are coupled by a reinforcing wall portion.

According to this configuration, even if the connector is minimized, the size of the operating portion is easily ensured. Further, the strength of the first protection wall can be improved by the reinforcing wall portion.

DETAILS OF EMBODIMENT OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure is described. The present disclosure is not limited to these illustrations, but is represented by claims and intended to include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents.

Embodiment

The embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference toFIGS.1to8. In the following description, a direction indicated by an arrow Z is referred to as an upward direction, a direction indicated by an arrow X is referred to as a forward direction and a direction indicated by an arrow Y is referred to as a leftward direction. Note that, for a plurality of identical members, only some may be denoted by a reference sign and the other members may not be denoted by the reference sign.

A connector1of this embodiment is, as shown inFIG.6, provided with female terminals11connected to wires W extending rearward, a housing10for accommodating the female terminals11and a retainer12for preventing the female terminals11from coming out from the housing10. Note that the female terminals11and the wires W are shown only inFIGS.6to8. As shown inFIGS.7and8, the connector1is connected to a mating connector2disposed in front. The mating connector2is provided with male terminals3and a mating housing4for accommodating the male terminals3.

[Housing, Upper Wall Portion, Pair of Side Wall Portions]

The housing10is made of insulating synthetic resin and has, as shown inFIG.1, a rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in a front-rear direction. As shown inFIG.5, the housing10includes an upper wall portion13constituting an upper part of the housing10, a lower wall portion14constituting a lower part of the housing10and a pair of side wall portions15disposed on both left and right sides of the upper and lower wall portions13,14and connecting the upper and lower wall portions13,14. Here, the pair of side wall portions15are composed of a first side wall portion15A and a second side wall portion15B (described in detail later).

As shown inFIGS.1and3, the pair of side wall portions15are provided with recesses16set to have a thinner wall thickness and formed by being recessed inwardly of the housing10. The recesses16are partially covered by the retainer12in a central part in the front-rear direction of the housing10. As shown inFIG.4, a temporary locking portion16A and a complete locking portion16B for locking the retainer12are provided in the recess16.

As shown inFIG.1, two female terminal accommodating portions17open in the front-rear direction and arranged in parallel in a lateral direction are provided inside the housing10. As shown inFIG.6, the female terminal accommodating portion17is formed to be able to accommodate the female terminal11. A connecting tube portion11A of the female terminal11to be connected to the male terminal3is disposed on a front side of the female terminal accommodating portion17(seeFIG.8). A front wall portion18to be contacted by a front end part of the female terminal11is provided in a front end part of the female terminal accommodating portion17. The wire W connected to the female terminal11is pulled out rearward from the female terminal accommodating portion17. A locking lance19is provided to be deflectable and deformable in a vertical direction on the side of the lower wall portion14of the front side of the female terminal accommodating portion17. The locking lance19is resiliently locked to a lance receiving portion11B provided in the connecting tube portion11A.

As shown inFIG.6, a retainer insertion hole20, into which the retainer12is inserted, is provided on the side of the lower wall portion14of a central part in the front-rear direction of the female terminal accommodating portion17. The retainer12can be locked to the housing10at a temporary locking position (not shown) and a complete locking position (seeFIGS.4and6). That is, inFIG.4, locking projections12A of the retainer12are locked to the temporary locking portions16A at the temporary locking position and locked to the complete locking portions16B at the complete locking position. The female terminals11are enabled to be inserted into the female terminal accommodating portions17when the retainer12is at the temporary locking position, whereas the female terminals11are prevented from coming out rearward from the female terminal accommodating portions17when the retainer12is at the complete locking position (seeFIG.6).

As shown inFIGS.1and3, the upper wall portion13of the housing10is provided with a lock arm21extending in the front-rear direction. The lock arm21is supported on both sides and a front end part of the lock arm21is connected to a front side of the upper wall portion13. As shown inFIGS.1and4, a rear end part21RR of the lock arm21is coupled to a pair of protection walls25to be described later. The lock arm21is mainly configured such that a central part in the front-rear direction of the lock arm21is deflectable and deformable in the vertical direction. As shown inFIG.3, a space between the lock arm21and the upper wall portion13serves as a resilient deformation region22where the lock arm21is deflectable and deformable. As shown inFIG.1, a through hole21A penetrating in the front-rear direction is provided in the front end part of the lock arm21.

As shown inFIGS.1to3, a lock portion23projecting upward is provided in the central part in the front-rear direction of the lock arm21. An operating portion24is provided on an upper side of a rear part of the lock arm21. As shown inFIG.8, the lock portion23is locked to a lock receiving portion5provided in the mating housing4of the mating connector2. The connected state of the connector1and the mating connector2is maintained by the locking of the lock portion23and the lock receiving portion5. The operating portion24is a member to be pressed to deflect and deform the lock arm21downward, and is used to release the locking of the lock portion23and the lock receiving portion5and release the connection of the connector1and the mating connector2for separation. Note that, as shown inFIGS.1and2, the operating portion24of this embodiment is composed of a first operating portion24A and a second operating portion24B configured not to be located behind the lock portion23to form the lock portion23, the first operating portion24A is disposed on the left side of the lock arm21and the second operating portion24B is disposed on the right side of the lock arm21.

As shown inFIG.5, a right end part24R of the operating portion24projects further rightward than a right end part21R of the lock arm21and a left end part24L of the operating portion24projects further leftward than a left end part21L of the lock arm21. As shown inFIG.2, rear end parts24RR of the operating portion24are disposed at the same position as a rear end part21RR of the lock arms21in the front-rear direction. By expanding the operating portion24further than the lock arm21in the lateral direction and aligning the respective rear end parts24RR,21RR in this way, it is possible to provide the operating portion24having a sufficient size for a connection releasing operation even if the connector1is minimized

[Pair of Protection Walls, Pair of Coupling Portions]

As shown inFIGS.1and4, the pair of protection walls25are provided to extend upward from the upper wall portion13on both end parts in the lateral direction of a rear part of the upper wall portion13. As shown inFIG.4, the rear end part21RR of the lock arm21and rear end parts25RR of the pair of protection walls25are coupled by a pair of coupling portions26. The pair of coupling portions26connect both end parts in the lateral direction of the lock portion21and upper parts of the pair of protection walls25. As shown inFIG.5, the pair of protection walls25are arranged to cover a rear side of the resilient deformation region22from the lateral direction. As shown inFIG.8, with the connector1and the mating connector2connected, most of the resilient deformation region22is covered by the mating housing4and the pair of protection walls25. In this way, it can be suppressed that external matters (e.g. a wire, a terminal and the like) enter the resilient deformation region22to hinder the connection releasing operation.

[Lower End Part of Operating Portion, Upper End parts of Pair of Protection Walls]

As shown inFIG.5, in this embodiment, lower end parts24LW of the operating portion24are disposed at the same height position as upper end parts25U of the pair of protection walls25. That is, the operating portion24and the pair of protection walls25are shifted in a height direction and do not interfere with each other in the lateral direction. According to this arrangement, even if a dimension S1in the lateral direction of the operating portion24is increased, intervals S2, S3in the lateral direction between the pair of protection walls25and the lock arm21need not be narrowed. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the strength of mold parts for forming spaces (regions shown by the intervals S2, S3) between the lock arm21and the pair of protection walls25.

[First Protection Wall, Second Protection Wall, First Side Wall Portion, Second Side Wall Portion]

As shown inFIG.1, the pair of protection walls25include a first protection wall25A and a second protection wall25B. Out of the pair of side wall portions15, the one located on the side of the first protection wall25A (left side in this embodiment) is the first side wall portion15A and the one located on the side of the second protection wall25B (right side in this embodiment) is the second side wall portion15B. The first and second protection walls25A,25B are respectively provided to project more outward from the housing10than the first and second side wall portions15A,15B. Here, as shown inFIG.2, a projection dimension S4of the first protection wall25A from the first side wall portion15A is larger than a projection dimension S5of the second protection wall25B from the second side wall portion15B.

As shown inFIGS.1and5, the first protection wall25A and the first side wall portion15A are coupled by a reinforcing wall portion27. The reinforcing wall portion27is bent rightward and connected to the first side wall portion15A after extending downward from a lower end part of the first protection wall25A.

By causing the pair of protection walls25to project outward with respect to the housing10as described above, the size of the operating portion24is easily ensured even if the connector1is minimized Note that it is also considered to cause the pair of protection walls to project outward as much as the pair of side wall portions as an embodiment different from this embodiment. However, since the projection dimension S5of the second protection wall25B can be reduced in this embodiment, a reduction in the strength of the second protection wall25B can be suppressed. On the other hand, there is a concern of a strength reduction for the first protection wall25A largely projecting outward, but the strength of the first protection wall25A is improved by coupling the first protection wall25A and the first side wall portion15A by the reinforcing wall portion27. Thus, in this embodiment, the operating portion24can be made larger while a reduction in the strength of the pair of protection walls25is suppressed.

Further, in this embodiment, the pair of protection walls25are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the housing10. For example, in the case of considering the optimization of a connector arrangement space and operability in connection and separation, it may not be possible to symmetrically arrange a pair of protection walls. However, according to this embodiment, such a case can also be dealt with.

As shown inFIG.3, front end parts24FR of the operating portion24are disposed forward of front end parts25FR of the pair of protection walls25. Inclined portions28inclined to reduce a height from the upper wall portion13toward a front side are provided on front parts of the pair of protection walls25. According to the above configuration, since the lock arm21can be deflected and deformed by pushing down the operating portion24along the inclined portions28particularly such as when an interval S6(seeFIG.4) between the pair of protection walls25is smaller than a worker's finger thickness, the connection releasing operation is easily performed. Further, by properly setting the heights of the inclined portions28from the upper wall portion13, excessive deflection and deformation of the lock arm21can be suppressed.

Functions and Effects of Embodiment

According to this embodiment, the following functions and effects are achieved. The connector1according to this embodiment is connectable to the mating connector2in the front-rear direction and provided with the housing10, the upper wall portion13of the housing10is provided with the lock arm21long in the front-rear direction and coupled to the upper wall portion13, the pair of protection walls25are provided to extend upward from the upper wall portion13on the both end parts in the lateral direction of the rear part of the upper wall portion13, the operating portion24to be pressed to deflect and deform the lock arm21downward is provided on the upper side of the rear part of the lock arm21, the right end part24R of the operating portion24projects further rightward than the right end part21R of the lock arm21and the left end part24L of the operating portion24projects further leftward than the left end part21L of the lock arm21, and the lower end parts24LW of the operating portion24are disposed at the same height position as the upper end parts25U of the pair of protection walls25.

According to the above configuration, even if the connector1is miniaturized, the size of the operating portion24can be ensured and the connection releasing operation of the connector1and the mating connector2is easily performed. Further, the intervals S2, S3between the pair of protection walls25and the lock arm21need not be narrowed and the strength of the mold parts used in manufacturing the connector1can be ensured.

In this embodiment, the rear end part21RR of the lock arm21and the rear end parts25RR of the pair of protection walls25are coupled by the pair of coupling portions26.

According to the above configuration, a reaction force of the deflection and deformation of the lock arm21can be improved and the connected state of the connector1and the mating connector2is easily maintained.

In this embodiment, the rear end parts24RR of the operating portion24are disposed at the same position as the rear end part21RR of the lock arm21in the front-rear direction.

According to the above configuration, the operating portion24can be made larger and the connection releasing operation is easily performed.

In this embodiment, the front end parts24FR of the operating portion24are disposed forward of the front end parts25FR of the pair of protection walls25, and the inclined portions28inclined to reduce the height from the upper wall portion13toward the front side are provided on the front parts of the pair of protection walls25.

According to the above configuration, since the lock arm21can be deflected and deformed by pushing down the operating portion24along the inclined portions28, the connection releasing operation is easily performed. Further, excessive deflection and deformation of the lock arm21can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, the housing10includes the pair of side wall portions15disposed on both left and right sides of the upper wall portion13, and the pair of side wall portions15include the recesses16set to have a thinner wall thickness and formed by being recessed inwardly of the housing10.

According to the above configuration, the amount of synthetic resin used in the connector1can be reduced, and the formation of voids during molding can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, the through hole21A penetrating in the front-rear direction is provided in the front end part of the lock arm21.

According to the above configuration, the amount of synthetic resin used in the connector1can be reduced, and the formation of voids during molding can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, one of the pair of protection walls25is the first protection wall25A and the other is the second protection wall25B, the side wall portion15located on the side of the first protection wall25A, out of the pair of side wall portions is the first side wall portion15A and the side wall portion15located on the side of the second protection wall25B is the second side wall portion15B, the projection dimension S4of the first protection wall25A from the first side wall portion15A is larger than the projection dimension S5of the second protection wall25B from the second side wall portion15B, and the first protection wall25A and the first side wall portion15A are coupled by the reinforcing wall portion27.

According to the above configuration, the size of the operating portion24is easily ensured even if the connector1is miniaturized. Further, the strength of the first protection wall25A can be improved by the reinforcing wall portion27.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

(1) Although the connector1includes the retainer12in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and a connector may not include a retainer.(2) Although the lower end parts24LW of the operating portion24are disposed at the same height position as the upper end parts25U of the pair of protection walls25, there is no limitation to this and lower end parts of an operating portion may be disposed at a position higher than upper end parts of a pair of protection walls.(3) Although the rear end part21RR of the lock arm21and the rear end parts of the pair of protection walls25are coupled by the pair of coupling portions26in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and a rear end part of a lock arm may be connected to a rear end part of an upper wall portion without being coupled to rear end parts of a pair of protection walls.(4) Although the lock arm21is supported on both sides and connected to the front side of the upper wall portion13and the pair of protection walls25in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and a lock arm may be cantilevered and connected only to a front side of an upper wall portion.(5) Although the projection dimension S4of the first protection wall25A from the first side wall portion15A is larger than the projection dimension S5of the second protection wall25B from the second side wall portion15B and the first protection wall and the first side wall portion15A are coupled by the reinforcing wall portion27in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this. For example, projection dimensions of a pair of protection walls from a pair of side wall portions may be equal.(6) Although the operating portion24is composed of the first operating portion24A and the second operating portion25B in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and an operating portion may be integrally provided without being divided into left and right parts.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: connector2: mating connector3: male terminal4: mating housing5: lock receiving portion10: housing11: female terminal11A: connecting tube portion11B: lance receiving portion12: retainer12A: locking projection13: upper wall portion14: lower wall portion15: pair of side wall portions15A: first side wall portion15B: second side wall portion16: recess16A: temporary locking portion16B: complete locking portion17: female terminal accommodating portion18: front wall portion19: locking lance20: retainer insertion hole21: lock arm21A: through hole21L: left end part of lock arm21R: right end part of lock arm21RR: rear end part of lock arm22: resilient deformation region23: lock portion24: operating portion24A: first operating portion24B: second operating portion24FR: front end part of operating portion24L: left end part of operating portion24LW: lower end part of operating portion24R: right end part of operating portion24RR: rear end part of operating portion25: pair of protection walls25A: first protection wall25B: second protection wall25FR: front end parts of pair of protection walls25RR: rear end parts of pair of protection walls25U: upper end parts of pair of protection walls26: pair of coupling portions27: reinforcing wall portion28: inclined portionS1: dimension in lateral direction of operating portionS2, S3: intervals between pair of protection walls and lock armS4: projection dimension of first protection wall from first side wall portionS5: projection dimension of second protection wall from second side wall portionS6: interval between pair of protection wallsW: wire