Lock structure for locking male and female connector housings together

A lock structure comprising a male connector housing, a female connector, an elastic lock arm, a lock-retaining portion and a correction portion. The female connector housing is to be fitted with the male connector housing in an opposing manner. The elastic lock arm is provided on one of the male and female connector housings and has a lock projection. The lock-retaining portion is provided on the one of the male and female connector housings that is not provided with the elastic lock arm. The lock projection of the lock arm is engageable with the lock-retaining portion. The correction portion corrects elastic deformation of the lock arm when the male and female connector housings are fitted together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention relates to a lock structure for locking or holding a
 condition in which male and female connector housings mutually fit
 together.
 2. Description of the Related Art
 FIG. 13 shows a connector 1 (disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined
 Publication No. 56-7287) using a lock device. In this Figure, this
 connector 1 comprises a male connector housing 2, and a female connector
 housing 4 having a hood portion 3 into which the male connector housing 2
 is inserted and fitted. The male connector housing 2 has an elastic lock
 arm 6 supported thereon in a cantilever manner on a fitting side 5 of the
 housing. A lock projection 7 is formed on the lock arm 6 at an
 intermediate portion thereof, and an operating portion 8 is provided at a
 free end of the lock arm 6.
 A groove 9 for receiving the lock arm 6 is formed in the hood portion 3 of
 the female connector housing 4, and a retaining member 10, extending
 between opposite sides of the groove 9, is provided on the hood portion 3.
 When the male and female connector housings 2 and 4 are fitted together,
 the lock arm 6 is inserted into the groove 9, and the lock projection 7
 engages with the retaining member 10.
 In this case, when the male connector housing 2 is inserted into the hood
 portion 3, the lock projection 7 abuts against the retaining member 10.
 When the male connector housing 2 is further inserted deep into the hood
 portion 3, the lock arm 6 is flexed (i.e., elastically deformed) to allow
 the lock projection 7 to pass the retaining member 10. The lock arm 6 is
 thereafter restored to its initial position because of its own elasticity,
 so that the lock projection 7 engages with the retaining member 10. When
 the lock projection 7 is thus engaged with the retaining member 10, there
 is achieved a locked condition in which the male and female connector
 housings 2 and 4 are held in a mutually fitted condition.
 However, connectors such as the one shown in FIG. 13 suffer from drawbacks.
 If the lock arm 6 is kept flexed under the influence of an external force,
 the lock projection 7 on the lock arm 6 will fail to properly engage with
 the retaining member 10 when the male connector housing 2 is inserted into
 the hood portion 3. There may be a sensation of incongruous operation, as
 compared with an ordinary operation. Additionally, the lock projection 7
 will not properly engage with the retaining member 10, even after the lock
 projection 7 passes the retaining member 10.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a lock structure in
 which a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving a
 locked condition, and the locking can be effected positively.
 According to the invention, there is provided a lock structure comprising a
 male connector housing, a female connector, an elastic lock arm, a
 lock-retaining portion and a correction portion. The female connector
 housing is to be fitted with the male connector housing in an opposing
 manner. The elastic lock arm is provided on one of the male and female
 connector housings and has a lock projection. The lock-retaining portion
 is provided on the one of the male and female connector housings that is
 not provided with the elastic lock arm. The lock projection of the lock
 arm is engageable with the lock-retaining portion. The correction portion
 corrects elastic deformation of the lock arm when the male and female
 connector housings are fitted together.
 In this lock structure, even if the lock arm is elastically deformed upon
 application of an external force before the male and female connector
 housings are fitted together, the correction portion corrects the elastic
 deformation of the lock arm to bring the lock arm into its normal
 condition when the male and female connector housings are fitted together.
 As a result, the lock projection properly engages with the lock-retaining
 portion, thus achieving proper locking. Therefore, a sensation of good
 operation can be obtained when achieving the locked condition, and a
 positively-locked condition can be obtained.
 The lock arm may be provided on the male connector housing, and the
 lock-retaining portion provided on a hood portion of the female connector
 housing, wherein the male connector housing may be inserted and fitted
 into the hood portion. The correction portion may be provided within said
 hood portion.
 In this lock structure, when the male connector housing is inserted into
 the hood portion of the female connector housing, the lock projection
 abuts against the lock-retaining portion, so that the lock arm is flexed.
 The lock projection therefore passes the lock-retaining portion, and the
 lock arm is restored to its original position due to its own elasticity.
 As a results the lock projection is retainingly engaged with the
 lock-retaining portion, thus achieving the locked condition.
 At this time, even if the lock arm is elastically deformed upon application
 of an external force, the correction portion corrects the
 elastically-deformed lock arm into its original position when the male and
 female connector housings are fitted together. The lock arm is therefore
 properly flexed, so that the lock projection engages with the
 lock-retaining portion. As a result, a sensation of good operation can be
 obtained when achieving the locked condition, and a positively-locked
 condition can be obtained.
 The lock structure of the invention may also have the lock arm supported by
 the male connector housing at an intermediate portion between opposite
 ends of the lock arm. The lock arm may further comprise a correction
 receiving portion provided at a front end portion of the lock arm disposed
 forwardly in a direction of fitting the male connector housing into the
 female connector housing, wherein the correction receiving portion slides
 in contact with the correction portion. A lock projection may be formed on
 a rear end portion of the lock arm.
 In this lock structure, when the male connector housing is inserted into
 the female connector housing, with the lock arm kept elastically deformed
 upon application of an external force, the correction receiving portion of
 the lock arm slides in contact with the correction portion, so that the
 lock arm is corrected into the normal position. As a result, the lock
 projection is engaged with the lock-retaining portion in a proper
 condition, and therefore a sensation of good operation can be obtained
 when achieving the locked condition, and a positively-locked condition can
 be obtained.
 The lock structure of the invention may also have the lock arm supported on
 the male connector housing through a support portion located at a front
 end of the lock arm, disposed forwardly in a direction of fitting of the
 male connector housing into the female connector housing. The correction
 portion passes through the support portion, and is brought into sliding
 contact with a flexed surface of the lock arm.
 In this lock structure, even if the lock arm, supported in a cantilever
 manner, is flexed upon application of an external force, the correction
 portion is brought into sliding contact with the surface of the lock arm
 facing the flexure space, to return the lock arm into the normal position
 when the male and female connector housings are fitted together. As a
 result, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving the
 locked condition. Also, a positively-locked condition can be obtained.
 The lock structure of the invention may also have a lock arm supported on
 the male connector housing at front and rear ends of the lock arm,
 respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly in a direction of fitting
 the male connector housing into the female connector housing. Also, the
 correction portion passes through the front support portion, and is
 brought into sliding contact with a flexed surface of the lock arm.
 In this lock structure, even if the lock arm, supported at its opposite
 ends thereof, is flexed upon application of an external force, the
 correction portion is brought into sliding contact with the surface of the
 lock arm that faces the flexure space, to return the lock arm into the
 normal position when the male and female connector housings are fitted
 together. As a result, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when
 achieving the locked condition. Moreover, a positively-locked condition
 can be obtained.
 The lock structure of the invention may also have a lock arm with an
 abutment projection. The lock arm is provided between a pair of side walls
 formed on and projecting from an outer surface of the male connector
 housing, and is supported on the pair of side walls at opposite sides of a
 front end of the lock arm, disposed forwardly in a direction of fitting of
 the male connector housing into the female connector housing. The
 correction portion, when inserted into a space beneath the lock arm, abuts
 against and is brought into sliding contact with the abutment projection.
 In this lock structure, even if the lock arm, supported at its opposite
 sides on the pair of side walls, is flexed upon application of an external
 force, the correction portion abuts against and is brought into sliding
 contact with the abutment projection to correct this elastic deformation
 when the male and female connector housings are fitted together. As a
 result, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when the lock
 projection is locked to the lock-retaining portion.
 The entire disclosure of each and every foreign patent application from
 which the benefit of foreign priority has been claimed in the present
 application is incorporated herein by reference, as if fully set forth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Preferred embodiments of the lock structure of the present invention will
 now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
 FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a connector 11 using a lock
 structure of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 11 comprises
 a male connector housing 12, and a female connector housing 14 having a
 hood portion 13 into which the male connector housing 12 is inserted and
 fitted. Terminal receiving chambers 15 are formed within the male
 connector housing 12, and female terminals 16 are received in these
 terminal receiving chambers 15, respectively. An elastic lock arm 19 is
 integrally formed on a portion of the male connector housing 12 via a
 support portion 18 near a fitting side 17, to be inserted into the hood
 portion 13. A correction receiving portion 20 is formed at one end portion
 of the lock arm 19. A lock projection 21 is formed on that portion of the
 lock arm 19, and is disposed rearwardly of the correction receiving
 portion 20 and the support portion 18. An operating portion 22 is formed
 at an end of the lock arm 19 at the side of the lock projection 21. As
 shown in FIG. 3, the correction receiving portion 20 has a small thickness
 and a slanting surface 23 formed at an end thereof.
 The correction receiving portion 20 has a small thickness, and therefore
 even if the lock arm 19 is flexed or elastically deformed upon application
 of an external force, the male connector housing 12 can be inserted into
 the hood portion 13. In other words, if the height of the male connector
 housing 12 is equal to an internal dimension of the hood portion 13, the
 male connector housing 12 can not be inserted into the hood portion 13
 when the lock arm 19 is flexed. However, the small thickness of the
 correction receiving portion 20 enables the male connector housing 12 to
 be inserted into the hood portion 13 even when the lock arm 19 is flexed.
 Thus, an effective relief can be achieved by the thin correction receiving
 portion 20.
 Male terminals 24 are received in the female connector housing 14, and
 contact portions 25 of these male terminals 24 project into the interior
 of the hood portion 13. When the male connector housing 12 is inserted and
 fitted into the hood portion 13, the female terminals 16 are connected to
 the contact portions 25, respectively. A hole 26 formed through a wall of
 the hood portion 13 communicates the interior and exterior of the hood
 portion 13. A portion of an inner peripheral edge of the hole 26 serves as
 a lock-retaining portion 27. When the male connector housing 12 is
 inserted and fitted into the hood portion 13, the lock projection 21 of
 the male connector housing 12 engages with the lock-retaining portion 27.
 A correction portion 28 is formed on an inner portion of the hood portion
 13. The correction portion 28 extends from an inner end (or bottom) of the
 hood portion 13 toward an open end (outer end) 13a thereof, and a slanting
 surface 29, slanting upwardly toward the hole 26, is formed at an end of
 the correction portion 28. When the male connector housing 12 is inserted
 into the hood portion 13, the correction receiving portion 20 of the lock
 arm 19 is brought into sliding contact with the correction portion 28.
 As shown in FIG. 1A, when the male connector housing 12 is inserted into
 the hood portion 13 with the lock arm 19 disposed in the normal position
 (i.e., not flexed), the lock projection 21 abuts against an edge 13b of
 the open end of the hood portion 13. When the male connector housing 12 is
 further inserted into the hood portion 13, the support portion 18 is
 flexed, so that the lock arm 19 is pivotally moved about the support
 portion 18. Then the lock projection 21 passes the opening edge 13b of the
 hood portion 13. When the lock projection 21 thus passes the opening edge
 13b of the hood portion 13, the lock arm 19 is restored to its normal
 position due to the elastic force of the support portion 18. The lock
 projection 21 is then fitted into the hole 26 to engage the lock-retaining
 portion 27, as shown in FIG. 2B.
 As shown in FIG. 1B, when the male connector housing 12 is inserted into
 the hood portion 13, with the lock arm 19 disposed out of the normal
 position upon application of an external force 30 thereto, the correction
 receiving portion 20 slides in contact with the correction portion 28 as
 shown in FIG. 2A, thereby correcting the lock arm 19 into the normal
 position. Under this condition, when the male connector housing 12 is
 further inserted into the hood portion 13, the lock projection 21 engages
 with the lock-retaining portion 27, thereby achieving the locked
 condition, as shown in FIG. 2B.
 In this embodiment, even if the lock arm 19 is flexed upon application of
 an external force 30, the correction portion 28 slides the correction
 receiving portion 20 when the male connector housing 12 is inserted into
 the hood portion 13. The flexing of the lock arm 19 is thereby corrected.
 As a result, a user can experience a sense of good operation while
 achieving the locked condition. Additionally, the locked condition can be
 positively obtained.
 In this first embodiment, the lock arm 19 is formed integrally with the
 male connector housing 12 through the support portion 18 formed on and
 projecting from the upper surface of the male connector housing 12.
 Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, there may be used an arrangement in
 which the lock arm 19 is molded integrally with the male connector housing
 12 through support arms 31 and 31 extending respectively from the opposite
 sides (i.e., side edges) of the lock arm 19.
 Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and
 5B. A connector 32 of this embodiment differs from the connector of the
 preceding embodiment in that a male connector housing 33 has a lock arm 34
 of a different shape. More specifically, in the preceding embodiment, as
 shown in FIG. 1, the lock arm 19 is supported at an intermediate portion
 thereof by the support portion 18, and therefore is the so-called see-saw
 type lock arm. On the other hand, the lock arm 34 of this embodiment is
 the cantilever-type lock arm, which extends from a fitting side 17 of the
 male connector housing 33.
 As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the lock arm 34 in this embodiment is formed
 integrally on the male connector housing 33 at the fitting side 17 through
 a support portion 35, and is supported in a cantilever manner. A
 correction portion insertion hole 36 is formed through the support portion
 35.
 A correction portion 38 is formed on and extends from a bottom (i.e., inner
 end) 37 of a hood portion 13 of a female connector housing 14. When the
 male connector housing 33 is inserted into the hood portion 13, the
 correction portion 38 passes through the correction portion insertion hole
 36, and is brought into sliding contact with that surface of the lock arm
 34 in a flexure space 39.
 When the male connector housing 33 is inserted into the hood portion 13
 while the lock arm 34 is flexed (or elastically deformed) by an external
 force, the correction portion 38 passes through the correction portion
 insertion hole 36, and slides in contact with the surface of the lock arm
 34 in the flexure space 39. The elastic deformation of the lock arm 34 is
 thereby corrected. As a result, the lock arm 34 is inserted in its normal
 condition into the hood portion 13, and therefore a sensation of good
 operation can be obtained when a lock projection 21 is locked to a
 lock-retaining portion 27. Additionally, the locked condition can be
 positively achieved.
 Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and
 6B. A connector 41 of this embodiment differs from the connectors of the
 first and second embodiments in that a lock arm 43 of a male connector
 housing 42 is supported at opposite ends thereof.
 As shown in FIG. 6A, the lock arm 43 in this embodiment is formed
 integrally on the male connector housing 42 through a front support
 portion 44 and a rear support portion 45. The front support portion 44
 (disposed at a fitting side 17) is disposed forwardly in a direction of
 fitting of the male connector housing 42 into a hood portion 13, and the
 rear support portion 45 is disposed rearwardly in the fitting direction. A
 correction portion insertion hole 46 is formed through the front support
 portion 44.
 A correction portion 47 is formed on and extends from a bottom (i.e., inner
 end) 37 of the hood portion 13 of a female connector housing 14. When the
 male connector housing 42 is inserted into the hood portion 13, the
 correction portion 47 passes through the correction portion insertion hole
 46, formed through the front support portion 44, and is brought into
 sliding contact with the surface of the lock arm 43 facing a flexure space
 48.
 When the male connector housing 42 is inserted into the hood portion 13,
 with the lock arm 43 kept flexed (or elastically deformed) by an external
 force, the correction portion 47 passes through the correction portion
 insertion hole 46, and slides in contact with the surface of the lock arm
 43 in the flexure space 48. The elastic deformation of the lock arm 43 is
 thereby corrected. As a result, the lock arm 43 is inserted in its normal
 condition into the hood portion, and therefore a sensation of good
 operation can be obtained when a lock projection 21 is locked to a
 lock-retaining portion 27. Moreover, the locked condition can be
 positively achieved.
 Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to
 12. A connector 51 of this embodiment comprises a male connector housing
 52, and a female connector housing 54 having a hood portion 53 into which
 the male connector housing 52 is inserted and fitted. As in the above
 embodiments, a plurality of terminal receiving chambers 55 (see FIG. 11)
 are formed within the male connector housing 52, and female terminals (not
 shown) are received in these terminal receiving chambers, respectively.
 As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a pair of side walls 52a and 52a is formed and
 projects from an outer surface of the male connector housing 52. The side
 walls 52a and 52a are spaced at a predetermined distance from each other.
 A lock arm 59 is provided between the two side walls 52a and 52a. The lock
 arm 59 is supported integrally on the pair of side walls 52a and 52a
 through support arms 58 and 58 (see FIG. 12) at a front end of the pair of
 side walls 52a and 52a disposed forwardly in a direction of fitting the
 male connector housing 52 into the female connector housing 54. The
 support arms 58 and 58 are formed respectively on opposite sides (i.e.,
 side edges) of the lock arm 59. Therefore, like the lock arm 34 of the
 second embodiment, this lock arm 59 is of the cantilever type. A space
 beneath the lock arm 59, provided between the pair of side walls 52a and
 52a, serves a flexure space 56 for the lock arm 59. A front end of the
 flexure space 56 is open and disposed forwardly in the direction of
 fitting the male connector housing 52 into the female connector housing
 54. An abutment projection 60 of an arc shape (See FIGS. 7 to 9) is formed
 on the lower surface of the lock arm 59 facing the flexure space 56.
 Like the female connector housing 14 of the first embodiment, the female
 connector housing 54 has male terminals received therein (not shown), and
 contact portions of these male terminals project into the interior of the
 hood portion 53. When the male connector housing 52 is inserted and fitted
 into the hood portion 53, the female terminals in the male connector
 housing 52 are connected to the contact portions, respectively. A hole 61
 is formed through a wall of the hood portion 53, and communicates the
 interior and exterior of the hood portion 53 with each other. A portion of
 an inner peripheral edge of the hole 61 serves as a lock-retaining portion
 62. When the male connector housing 52 is inserted and fitted into the
 hood portion 53, a lock projection 63 on the male connector housing 52
 engages with the lock-retaining portion 62.
 A correction portion 64 of a downwardly-open channel-shaped cross-section
 is formed on and extends from a bottom (i.e., inner end) of the hood
 portion 53 toward an open end 53b thereof. A length of the correction
 portion 64 extending to the open end is determined so that an intermediate
 portion of the lock arm 59 can be flexed (i.e., elastically deformed) when
 the lock projection 63 is engaged with the lock-retaining portion 62.
 Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the length of the correction portion 64 is
 about a half of the distance between the bottom 53a of the hood portion 53
 and the lock projection 63 of the lock arm 59.
 As shown in FIG. 7, when the male connector housing 52 is inserted into the
 hood portion 53, with the lock arm 59 disposed in its normal position, the
 lock projection 63 abuts against an edge 53c of the open end of the hood
 portion 53. When the male connector housing 52 is further inserted into
 the hood portion 53, the support arms 58 and 58 are flexed, so that the
 lock arm 59 is pivotally moved about the support arms 58 and 58, and the
 lock projection 63 passes the opening edge 53c of the hood portion 53.
 When the lock projection 63 thus passes the opening edge 53c of the hood
 portion 53, the lock arm 59 is restored to its normal position because of
 the elastic force of the support arms 58 and 58. The lock projection 63 is
 fitted into the hole 61 to engage the lock-retaining portion 62, as shown
 in FIG. 9.
 As shown in FIG. 8, when the male connector housing 52 is inserted into the
 hood portion 53, with the lock arm 59 disposed out of the normal position
 upon application of an external force thereto, the end of the correction
 portion 64 abuts against the abutment projection 60. When the male
 connector housing 52 is further inserted into the hood portion 53, the
 correction portion 64 slides in contact with the abutment projection 60,
 thereby correcting the lock arm 59 into the normal position. In this
 condition, when the male connector housing 52 is further inserted into the
 hood portion 53, the lock projection 63 engages with the lock-retaining
 portion 62, thereby achieving the locked condition, as shown in FIG. 9.
 In this embodiment, even if the lock arm 59 is flexed due to an application
 of an external force, the correction portion 64 is brought into sliding
 contact with the abutment projection 60 when the male connector housing 52
 is inserted into the hood portion 33. The flexing of the lock arm 59 is
 thus corrected. As a result, a sensation of good operation can be obtained
 when the lock projection 63 is locked to the lock-retaining portion 62.
 Moreover, the locked condition can be positively obtained.
 As shown in FIG. 9, when the male connector housing 52 is completely fitted
 into the hood portion 53, the correction portion 64 supports the lower
 surface of the lock arm 59.
 As described above, according to the present invention, even if the lock
 arm is elastically deformed upon application of an external force before
 the male and female connector housings are fitted together, the correction
 portion corrects the elastic deformation of the lock arm to bring the lock
 arm into its normal condition when the male and female connector housings
 are fitted together. As a result, the lock projection properly engages
 with the lock-retaining portion, thus achieving the proper locking.
 Therefore, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving
 the locked condition. Also, the positively-locked condition can be
 obtained.
 Moreover, even if the lock arm is elastically deformed upon application of
 an external force, the correction portion corrects the
 elastically-deformed lock arm into its original position when the male and
 female connector housings are fitted together. Therefore, the lock arm is
 properly flexed, so that the lock projection engages with the
 lock-retaining portion. Therefore, a use may experience a sense of good
 operation when achieving the locked condition. Also, the locked condition
 can be positively obtained.
 In addition to the above effects, when the male connector housing is
 inserted into the female connector housing, with the lock arm kept
 elastically deformed upon application of an external force, the correction
 receiving portion of the lock arm slides in contact with the correction
 portion, so that the lock arm is corrected into the normal position. As a
 result, the lock projection engages with the lock-retaining portion in a
 proper condition, and therefore a sensation of good operation can be
 obtained when achieving the locked condition, and the locked condition can
 be positively obtained.
 As described in another embodiment, even if the lock arm, supported in a
 cantilever manner, is flexed upon application of an external force, the
 correction portion is brought into sliding contact with the surface of the
 lock arm, facing the flexure space, to return the lock arm into the normal
 position when the male and female connector housings are fitted together.
 As a result, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving
 the locked condition, and the locked condition can be positively obtained.
 Moreover, even if the lock arm, supported at opposite ends thereof, is
 flexed upon application of an external force, the correction portion is
 brought into sliding contact with the surface of the lock arm, facing the
 flexure space, to return the lock arm into the normal position when the
 male and female connector housings are fitted together. As a result, a
 sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving the locked
 condition, and the locked condition can be positively obtained.
 In addition, even if the lock arm, supported at opposite sides on the pair
 of side walls, is flexed upon application of an external force, the
 correction portion abuts against and is brought into sliding contact with
 the abutment projection to correct this elastic deformation when the male
 and female connector housings are fitted together. As a result, a
 sensation of good operation can be obtained when the lock projection is
 locked to the lock-retaining portion.
 While only certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically
 described herein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be
 made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.