CONNECTOR

A connector 1 includes: a connector housing 10 that includes a housing main body 10A that can be fitted to a mating connector 60, and a CPA holding portion 21 that is disposed on an outer surface of the housing main body 10A; a CPA member 40 that is attached to the CPA holding portion 21, and that can be moved from a standby position to a fitting assurance position when the housing main body 10A is in a fitting complete position relative to the mating connector 60; and a two-dimensional code 50 that is disposed on the outer surface of the housing main body 10A. A part of the two-dimensional code 50 is covered by the CPA member 40 when the CPA member 40 is in the standby position, and the entire two-dimensional code 50 is exposed when the CPA member 40 is in the fitting assurance position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-149067, filed on Sep. 14, 2021, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technique disclosed by the present specification relates to a connector.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a connector provided with a fitting detection function for detecting whether or not male and female housings are properly fitted together is known. For example, such a connector includes a connector housing, a lever that assists the fitting of the connector housing and a mating connector to one another, a position assurance lock that can be moved from a release position to an engagement position when the lever is in a fitting complete position, and an identifier that is affixed to the connector housing. The identifier is covered by the position assurance lock when the position assurance lock is in the release position, and is exposed from the position assurance lock and can be accessed using a reading device or the like when the position assurance lock is in the engagement position. The completion of the fitting of the connector housing and the mating connector to one another is detected and recorded by the exposed identifier being accessed. JP 2017-162797A is an example of related art.

SUMMARY

In the above-described configuration, the entire identifier is covered when the position assurance lock is in the release position, and thus, work efficiency may decrease due to the worker carrying out the work for fitting the connector not being able to find out where the identifier is and being confused.

A connector disclosed by the present specification includes: a connector housing that includes a housing main body that can be fitted to a mating connector, and a holding portion that is disposed on an outer surface of the housing main body; a fitting assurance member that is attached to the holding portion, and that can be moved from a standby position to a fitting assurance position when the housing main body is in a fitting complete position relative to the mating connector; and an identifier that is disposed on one of the outer surface of the housing main body and an outer surface of the fitting assurance member, wherein a part of the identifier is covered by the other one of the holding portion and the fitting assurance member when the fitting assurance member is in the standby position, and the entire identifier is exposed when the fitting assurance member is in the fitting assurance position.

The connector disclosed by the present specification improves work efficiency.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) A connector disclosed by the present specification includes: a connector housing that includes a housing main body that can be fitted to a mating connector, and a holding portion that is disposed on an outer surface of the housing main body; a fitting assurance member that is attached to the holding portion, and that can be moved from a standby position to a fitting assurance position when the housing main body is in a fitting complete position relative to the mating connector; and an identifier that is disposed on one of the outer surface of the housing main body and an outer surface of the fitting assurance member, wherein a part of the identifier is covered by the other one of the holding portion and the fitting assurance member when the fitting assurance member is in the standby position, and the entire identifier is exposed when the fitting assurance member is in the fitting assurance position.

According to the above-described configuration, the identifier can be read when the fitting assurance member is in the fitting assurance position, and thus the state in which the connector has been properly fitted to the mating connector can be accurately detected and recorded. Furthermore, when the fitting assurance member is in the standby position, the identifier can be partially seen although the identifier cannot be read. Thus, a worker can carry out work while checking the identifier with his/her eyes, and work efficiency is improved.

(2) In the connector according to (1) above, the ratio of the area of the portion of the identifier that is exposed when the fitting assurance member is in the standby position may be more than 50% and 90% or less relative to the entire area of the identifier.

If the area of the exposed portion of the identifier is more than 50%, a worker can easily check the identifier with his/her eyes, and work efficiency is improved. Furthermore, if the area of the exposed portion of the identifier is 90% or less, the identifier definitely cannot be read, and thus a situation can be avoided in which the identifier is read even though the fitting of the connector to the mating connector is incomplete.

(3) In the connector according to (1) or (2) above, the fitting assurance member may include an operation portion that is operated to move the fitting assurance member from the standby position to the fitting assurance position, and the identifier may be disposed on the outer surface of the housing main body so as to be positioned adjacent to the operation portion.

According to such a configuration, when moving the fitting assurance member from the standby position to the fitting assurance position, a worker can more easily carry out the work while looking at the identifier, and work efficiency is reliably improved.

(4) In the connector according to (1) or (2) above, the identifier may be disposed on the fitting assurance member, and the holding portion may include a holding wall that sandwiches and holds the fitting assurance member between the housing main body and itself, and that covers a part of the identifier when the fitting assurance member is in the standby position.

According to such a configuration, a holding wall that is included in the holding portion and that is for holding the fitting assurance member is used to cover the identifier, and thus the configuration of the holding portion can be prevented from becoming complicated.

In the following, specific examples of the technique disclosed by the present specification will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is intended to include all modifications that are indicated by the claims and are within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims.

Embodiment 1 will be described with reference toFIGS.1to18. A connector1according to the present embodiment is a lever-type connector that fits to a mating connector60that has cam followers62, and as illustrated inFIG.1, includes a connector housing10that includes a CPA holding portion21(one example of the holding portion), a lever30that is attached to this connector housing10, and a connector position assurance (CPA) member40(one example of the fitting assurance member) that is attached to the CPA holding portion21and that assures a state in which the connector1and the mating connector60are fitted to one another. The CPA member40can slide and move between a standby position (the position illustrated inFIG.3) in which a part thereof projects from the CPA holding portion21, and a fitting assurance position (the position illustrated inFIG.17) in which the entirety thereof is housed inside the CPA holding portion21.

The connector housing10is made of synthetic resin, and, as illustrated inFIGS.1,2, and3, includes a housing main body10A that can be fitted to the mating connector60, two turning shafts14, and a lock arm15.

The housing main body10A includes a block-shaped terminal holding portion11that holds a terminal fitting, and a hood portion12that extends from this terminal holding portion11and receives the mating connector60in the inside thereof. As illustrated inFIG.1, the hood portion12has the shape of a rectangular column having a connector inlet12C that the mating connector60can advance into, and includes two mutually-parallel mounting walls12A, a lock wall12B that connects the two mounting walls12A, and a mount portion16that is disposed on the outer surface of the lock wall12B. Each of the two mounting walls12A extends from the rim of the connector inlet12C, and has a receiving groove13that a cam follower62of the mating connector60can advance into.

As illustrated inFIGS.5and6, the mount portion16has the shape of a flat base that slightly projects from the outer surface of the lock wall12B.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the two turning shafts14have substantially cylindrical shapes, and are respectively disposed on the outer surfaces of the two mounting walls12A.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the lock arm15includes a lock base portion15A that extends from one end of the mount portion16, a plate-spring-shaped lock plate15B that continues from the lock base portion15A and extends along the mount portion16, and a lock claw15C that projects from the lock plate15B. One end of the lock plate15B that is connected to the lock base portion15A is the base end, and the opposite side of the lock plate15B is a free end. The lock plate15B can bend toward and away from the mount portion16.

As illustrated inFIGS.5,6, and7, the CPA holding portion21is disposed on the outer surface of the lock wall12B. The CPA holding portion21includes side walls22, two holding walls23, two first restricting protrusions25, and two guide rails28.

The two side walls22are erected from the lock wall12B, and are disposed on both sides of mount portion16and the lock arm15. The two holding walls23each extend inward (toward the other side wall22) from one end that is close to the free end of the lock arm15in each of the two side walls22. The holding walls23are each disposed across a gap from the mount portion16. The space that is defined by the side walls22, the holding walls23, and the mount portion16is a CPA insertion port24that allows the CPA member40to advance into the CPA holding portion21. A part of the mount portion16is disposed so as to project to the outside of the CPA holding portion21from the CPA insertion port24.

The two first restricting protrusions25are each disposed across a gap from the lock wall12B near an end portion on the opposite side from the holding walls23in each of the two side walls22.

The two side walls22have guide grooves26that extend along the side edges of the lock arm15. As illustrated inFIG.8, first locking protrusions27are provided in a projecting state inside the guide grooves26.

As illustrated inFIGS.5and6, the two guide rails28are linear projections that project from the lock wall12B and the mount portion16, and extend in parallel with the two side walls22. One end portion of each guide rail28is disposed inside the CPA insertion port24, and the remaining large portion of each guide rail28is disposed so as to project to the outside of the CPA holding portion21.

The lever30is a member for assisting the fitting and the detaching of the connector housing10and the mating connector60to and from one another by utilizing the principle of leverage. The lever30is made of synthetic resin, and as illustrated inFIG.9, is a substantially U-shaped member including two cam plates31, and a turning operation portion32that connects these two cam plates31.

The two cam plates31each include a shaft hole33that receives a turning shaft14, and a cam groove34that receives a cam follower62. The shaft hole33is a substantially circular hole that penetrates the cam plate31. The cam groove34is a groove that is disposed in the surface of the cam plate31facing the connector housing10, and includes, at an outer edge of the cam plate31, a cam inlet34A that allows the cam follower62to advance into the cam groove34. The cam groove34has a substantially arcuate shape such that the cam groove34gradually approaches the shaft hole33, which is the center about which the cam plate31turns, at positions further toward the inner side from the cam inlet34A.

The lever30includes two release protrusions36and a lock portion35projecting from the turning operation portion32. As illustrated inFIG.9, the lock portion35is a protrusion that is disposed at the center position between both ends of the turning operation portion32and that tapers as the distance from the turning operation portion32increases. As illustrated inFIGS.1and9, the two release protrusions36are disposed at both sides of the lock portion35.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the lever30is mounted so as to extend across the connector housing10, with the cam plates31being disposed along the mounting walls12A and the turning shafts14being fitted into the shaft holes33. The lever30is pivotally supported so that the lever30can turn about the turning shafts14between a fitting start position (the position illustrated inFIGS.1and12) and a fitting complete position (the position illustrated inFIG.13) in which the mating connector60is fitted to the connector housing10in the proper fitting position.

As illustrated inFIG.10, the CPA member40includes a push operation portion41(one example of the operation portion), two arm connection portions43that are disposed at both sides of the push operation portion41, and two arms42that extend from the arm connection portions43, and is U-shaped as a whole. The push operation portion41has the shape of a thick plate. The two arm connection portions43have guide recesses44that receive the guide rails28. The two arms42extend in parallel to one another, and are disposed between the two side walls22and the lock arm15. Each of the arms42has the shape of a bar as a whole; half of the arm42that is adjacent to the arm connection portion43constitutes an arm base portion42A, and half of the arm42that is located further toward the tip than the arm base portion42A is constitutes a bending portion42B that is thinner than the arm base portion42A and is allowed to undergo deformation by bending.

The CPA member40includes two guide ribs45, two second locking protrusions46, and two second restricting protrusions47. The two guide ribs45are linear, and project outward from the arm connection portions43and the arm base portions42A to be housed inside the guide grooves26. The second locking protrusions46are protrusions that project further outward from the guide ribs45; the second locking protrusions46are disposed inside the guide grooves26and can engage with the first locking protrusions27. The second restricting protrusions47are disposed at the tips of the bending portions42B; the second restricting protrusions47project toward the direction opposite from the lock wall12B (upward inFIG.4), and can engage with the first restricting protrusions25.

When the CPA member40is in the standby position, the push operation portion41, the arm connection portions43, and parts of the arm base portions42A project from the CPA insertion port24to the outside (the left side inFIG.3) of the CPA holding portion21, as illustrated inFIG.3. As illustrated inFIG.8, by engaging with the first locking protrusions27, the second locking protrusions46restrict the CPA member40from projecting from the CPA holding portion21any further than a predetermined amount and restrict the CPA member40from being detached from the CPA holding portion21. As illustrated inFIG.4, by engaging with the first restricting protrusions25, the second restricting protrusions47restrict the CPA member40from moving to the fitting assurance position. As illustrated inFIG.4, the holding walls23hold the arm base portions42A in a state such that the arm base portions42A are sandwiched between the mount portion16and the holding walls23, and thus the CPA member40is restricted from moving in a floating fashion from the connector housing10.

When the CPA member40is in the fitting assurance position, the entire CPA member40is housed inside the CPA holding portion21, as illustrated inFIGS.17and18.

As illustrated inFIGS.5and6, a part of the mount portion16is disposed so as to project to the outside of the CPA holding portion21, and has a portion that is adjacent to the CPA insertion port24. In this portion, the outer surface that is parallel with the lock wall12B is a code arrangement surface16A. A two-dimensional code50(one example of the identifier) is disposed on the code arrangement surface16A. For example, information such as “fitting complete” and “lot number” is recorded in the two-dimensional code50. For example, the two-dimensional code50can be formed by performing laser printing on the surface of the code arrangement surface16A.

As illustrated inFIG.11, the mating connector60includes a block-shaped mating housing61that holds a mating terminal fitting, and the two cam followers62, which are disposed on the outer surface of the mating housing61.

In a state in which the connector1is not fitted to the mating connector60, the lever30is held in the fitting start position, and the CPA member40is held in the standby position, as illustrated inFIG.1. In the state in which the CPA member40is in the standby position, the push operation portion41is positioned above the code arrangement surface16A, as illustrated inFIGS.3and8. A part of the two-dimensional code50is concealed by the push operation portion41, and the remaining portion of the two-dimensional code50is exposed and can be seen. When the CPA member40is in the standby position, the movement of the CPA member40in the direction in which the CPA member40projects from the CPA holding portion21is restricted by the second locking protrusions46engaging with the first locking protrusions27, as illustrated inFIG.8, and the movement of the CPA member40to the fitting assurance position is restricted by the second restricting protrusions47engaging with the first restricting protrusions25, as illustrated inFIG.4. Thus, it is ensured that the ratio of the area of the exposed portion of the two-dimensional code50is more than 50% and 90% or less relative to the entire area of the two-dimensional code50. If the area of the exposed portion of the two-dimensional code50is more than 50%, a worker can easily check the two-dimensional code50with his/her eyes, and work efficiency is improved. Furthermore, if the area of the exposed portion of the two-dimensional code50is 90% or less, the two-dimensional code50definitely cannot be read using a reading device such as a scanning device, and thus a situation can be avoided in which the two-dimensional code50is read even though the fitting of the connector1to the mating connector60is incomplete.

Upon fitting the connector1to the mating connector60, the operation of fitting the connector1to the mating connector60is assisted by the mating connector60being relatively pulled toward the connector housing10by the cam effect between the cam grooves34and the cam followers62as the lever30is turned from the fitting start position to the fitting complete position.

First, the connector1is fitted to the mating connector60shallowly. As illustrated inFIG.12, the cam followers62advance into the cam grooves34.

Next, the lever30is turned from the fitting start position toward the fitting complete position. As the lever30is turned, the connector housing10is relatively pulled toward the mating housing61by the cam effect based on the engagement between the cam grooves34and the cam followers62. As the lever30approaches the fitting complete position, the lock plate15B bends toward the mount portion16due to the lock claw15C of the lock arm15being pushed by the lock portion35. When the lever30reaches the fitting complete position, the connector housing10arrives at the proper fitting position relative to the mating connector60, as illustrated inFIG.13. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.15, the lock portion35is positioned so as to extend along the lock arm15due to the lock portion35riding over the lock claw15C and the lock arm15elastically returning to its original position. The lever30is retained in the fitting complete position due to the tip of the lock portion35engaging with the lock claw15C.

In the state in which the lever30has reached the fitting complete position, the two release protrusions36having advanced into the spaces between the two side walls22and the lock arm15press the two second restricting protrusions47toward the mount portion16, as illustrated inFIG.16. Then, the bending portions42B bend toward the mount portion16, allowing the second restricting protrusions47to pass through the spaces between the first restricting protrusions25and the mount portion16. Thus, the CPA member40can be moved from the standby position to the fitting assurance position. In contrary to this, in a case in which the lever30has not reached the fitting complete position and the housing main body10A has not arrived at the proper fitting complete position relative to the mating connector60, the release protrusions36do not press the second restricting protrusions47, and thus, the first restricting protrusions25interfere with the second restricting protrusions47, resulting in the movement of the CPA member40to the fitting assurance position being restricted (seeFIG.4). In such a manner, it can be judged whether or not the lever30has been turned to the fitting complete position and the connector1has arrived at the proper fitting complete position relative to the mating connector60based on whether or not the CPA member40can be pushed to the fitting assurance position.

After the lever30has been placed in the fitting complete position, the CPA member40is pushed from the standby position to the fitting assurance position, as illustrated inFIG.17. Once the CPA member40reaches the fitting assurance position, the CPA member40is restricted from moving to the standby position and is retained in the fitting assurance position due to the second restricting protrusions47passing through the spaces between the first restricting protrusions25and the mount portion16, the bending portions42B elastically returning to their original positions, and the second restricting protrusions47engaging with the first restricting protrusions25, as illustrated inFIG.18.

In the state in which the CPA member40has reached the fitting assurance position, the entire two-dimensional code50is exposed due to not being covered by the push operation portion41, as illustrated inFIG.17. Thus, the two-dimensional code50can be read. The completion of fitting is recorded to a recording device by this two-dimensional code50being read using a scanning device.

As described above, according to embodiment1, a connector1includes: a connector housing10that includes a housing main body10A that can be fitted to a mating connector60, and a CPA holding portion21that is disposed on an outer surface of the housing main body10A; a CPA member40that is attached to the CPA holding portion21, and that can be moved from a standby position to a fitting assurance position when the housing main body10A is in a fitting complete position relative to the mating connector60; and a two-dimensional code50that is disposed on the outer surface of the housing main body10A. A part of the two-dimensional code50is covered by the CPA member40when the CPA member40is in the standby position, and the entire two-dimensional code50is exposed when the CPA member40is in the fitting assurance position.

According to the above-described configuration, the two-dimensional code50can be read when the CPA member40is in the fitting assurance position, and thus the state in which the connector1has been properly fitted to the mating connector60can be accurately detected and recorded. Furthermore, when the CPA member40is in the standby position, the two-dimensional code50can be partially seen although the two-dimensional code50cannot be read. Thus, a worker can carry out work while checking the two-dimensional code50with his/her eyes, and work efficiency is improved.

Furthermore, the ratio of the area of the portion of the two-dimensional code50that is exposed when the CPA member40is in the standby position is more than 50% and 90% or less relative to the entire area of the two-dimensional code50.

If the area of the exposed portion of the two-dimensional code50is more than 50%, a worker can easily check the two-dimensional code50with his/her eyes, and work efficiency is improved. Furthermore, if the area of the exposed portion of the two-dimensional code50is 90% or less, the two-dimensional code50definitely cannot be read using a reading device such as a scanning device, and thus a situation can be avoided in which the two-dimensional code50is read even though the fitting of the connector1to the mating connector60is incomplete.

Furthermore, the CPA member40includes a push operation portion41that is operated to move the CPA member40from the standby position to the fitting assurance position, and the two-dimensional code50is disposed on the outer surface of the connector housing10so as to be positioned adjacent to the push operation portion41.

According to such a configuration, when moving the CPA member40from the standby position to the fitting assurance position, a worker can more easily carry out the work while looking at the two-dimensional code50, and work efficiency is reliably improved.

Next, embodiment 2 will be described with reference toFIGS.19and20. A connector70according to the present embodiment differs from embodiment 1 in that a two-dimensional code73(one example of the identifier) is disposed on the outer surface of a CPA member71(one example of the fitting assurance member). In the present embodiment, configurations that are similar to those in embodiment 1 are provided with the same reference symbols and description thereof will be omitted.

The CPA member71has a configuration similar to the CPA member in embodiment 1, and one of the two arms42has a code arrangement surface72. The code arrangement surface72is the surface of the one arm42on the opposite side from the surface facing the mount portion16. The two-dimensional code73(one example of the identifier) is disposed on the code arrangement surface72.

In a state in which the CPA member71is in the standby position, a holding wall23is positioned so as to cover a part of the code arrangement surface72, as illustrated inFIG.19. A part of the two-dimensional code73is concealed by a holding wall23, and the remaining portion of the two-dimensional code73is exposed and can be seen. Similarly to embodiment 1, the ratio of the area of the exposed portion of the two-dimensional code73is more than 50% and 90% or less relative to the entire area of the two-dimensional code73. In a state in which the CPA member71is in the fitting assurance position, the entire two-dimensional code73is exposed due to not being covered by the holding wall23, as illustrated inFIG.20. Thus, the two-dimensional code73can be read.

In embodiment 2, a two-dimensional code73is disposed on the outer surface of a CPA member71, and a part of the two-dimensional code73is covered by the CPA holding portion21when the CPA member71is in the standby position, whereas the entire two-dimensional code73is exposed when the CPA member71is in the fitting assurance position. According to such a configuration as well, the state in which the connector70has been properly fitted to the mating connector60can be accurately detected and recorded because the two-dimensional code73can be read when the CPA member71is in the fitting assurance position, similarly to embodiment 1. Furthermore, when the CPA member71is in the standby position, the two-dimensional code73can be partially seen by a worker although the two-dimensional code73cannot be read using a reading device such as a scanning device. Thus, the worker can carry out work while checking the two-dimensional code73with his/her eyes, and work efficiency is improved.

Furthermore, the CPA holding portion21includes a holding wall23that holds the CPA member71in a state in which the CPA member71is sandwiched between the housing main body10A and itself, and that covers a part of the two-dimensional code73when the CPA member71is in the standby position.

According to such a configuration, a holding wall23that is included in the CPA holding portion21and that is for holding the CPA member71is used to cover the two-dimensional code73, and thus the configuration of the CPA holding portion21can be prevented from becoming complicated.

Other Embodiments

(1) In embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the identifier was a two-dimensional code (two-dimensional codes50and73). However, the identifier may be a one-dimensional code such as a bar code, one or more characters, numerals, figures, projections/recesses, or any combination thereof.

(2) In embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the housing main body10A included the mount portion16. However, the housing main body need not include a mount portion.

(3) In embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the connector (connectors1and70) included a lever. However, the connector need not include a lever.