Connector

A connector includes a lever drawing and fitting a first housing and a second housing by moving from a temporary lock position to a final lock position. The lever includes a lever-side lock portion elastically deformable in a first direction away from a surface of the first housing, and including a reinforcing rib that enhances rigidity against a deformation of the lever-side lock protrusion. The first housing includes a housing-side lock portion which locks the lever-side lock portion when the lever is in the temporary lock position, which inhibits movement of the lever to the final lock position during locking, and which permits the lever to move to the final lock position when the locking is released. The second housing includes a lock releasing portion which pushes the lever-side lock portion in the first direction so as to release the locking.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application (Application No. 2016-107423) filed on May 30, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a connector including a first housing, a second housing fittable to the first housing, and a lever attachable to the first housing to draw and fit the first housing and the second housing to each other by moving from a temporary lock position to a final lock position.

Description of Related Art

A lever type connector having a lever for assisting housings of the connector to be fitted to each other has been proposed in the background art.

For example, in one of such background-art lever type connectors (hereinafter referred to as “background-art connector”), a lever is rotatably attached to one of housings, and a temporary lock protrusion is provided in the housing so that a temporary lock arm provided in the lever can be locked to the temporary lock protrusion. The temporary lock protrusion locks the temporary lock arm as soon as the lever is rotated to a predetermined position (temporary lock position). Thus, the temporary lock protrusion can inhibit the lever from further rotating (rotating toward a final lock position). However, when the temporary lock arm is bent by a temporary lock releasing portion provided in the other housing to thereby release the locking between the temporary lock arm and the temporary lock protrusion, the lever can rotate further. In this manner, according to the background-art connector, when proper fitting is not established between the two housings (for example, when there is a distance between the housings), the lever is retained in the temporary lock position so that the lever can be prevented from rotating unintentionally (for example, see JP-A-2012-38498).

SUMMARY

The temporary lock arm of the background-art connector has a cantilever-like shape formed out of a thin plate. The magnitude of a force (locking force) with which the temporary lock arm can retain the lever in the temporary lock position against an external force depends on thickness, width, length, etc. of the temporary lock arm. Therefore, for example, when an excessive external force acts on the lever, the temporary lock arm may be bent to release the locking between the temporary lock arm and the temporary lock protrusion in spite of an improper fitting time. To say other words, the lever may be rotated unintentionally in spite of the improper fitting time.

When the lever is rotated unintentionally as described above, some measures are required before starting a proper fitting step (by rotation of the lever, or the like) in order to perform fitting. For example, the lever has to be returned to the temporary lock position by manual operation of a worker. Therefore, such rotation does not have any influence on the essential function (assisting fitting by the lever) of the background-art connector, but can cause deterioration in workability in the fitting step.

One or more embodiments of the present invention have been developed in consideration of the above-described situation, and an object thereof is to provide a connector capable of preventing unintentional movement of a lever as much as possible when fitting between housings is not established.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a connector as described in the following aspects <1> to <3>.

<1> A connector including: a first housing; a second housing fittable to the first housing; and a lever attachable to the first housing to draw and fit the first housing and the second housing to each other by moving from a temporary lock position to a final lock position,

wherein the lever includes a lever-side lock portion which is elastically deformable in a first direction away from a surface of the first housing, and which includes a reinforcing rib that enhances rigidity against a deformation of the lever-side lock protrusion,

wherein the first housing includes a housing-side lock portion which locks the lever-side lock portion when the lever is in the temporary lock position, which inhibits movement of the lever to the final lock position when the housing-side lock portion locks the lever-side lock portion, and which permits the lever to move to the final lock position when the housing-side lock portion is released from locking of the lever-side lock portion, and

wherein the second housing includes a lock releasing portion which pushes the lever-side lock portion in the first direction so as to release locking between the lever-side lock portion and the housing-side lock portion.

<2> The connector according to the aspect <1>,

wherein the lever further includes a connection portion that is connected to the first housing so that the lever can perform the movement, and a cut that is provided between the connection portion and the lever-side lock portion, and

wherein the lever-side lock portion has a cantilever-like shape having a fixed end near a deepest portion of the cut.

<3> The connector according to the aspect <1> or <2>,

wherein the first housing and the second housing are fitted to each other such that a peripheral wall of the first housing and a peripheral wall of the second housing overlap each other, and

wherein the first housing includes a guide slit which penetrates the peripheral wall of the first housing and which extends in a fitting direction so as to guide the lock releasing portion toward the lever-side lock portion in a state in which the lock releasing portion has penetrated the peripheral wall of the first housing.

According to the connector having the aspect <1>, the lever-side lock portion is locked to the housing-side lock portion when fitting between the housings is not established, while the locking to the housing-side lock portion is released by the temporary lock releasing portion provided in the second housing when fitting is established. Further, the lever-side lock portion includes the reinforcing rib for enhancing rigidity against deformation (elastic deformation for releasing the locking). Thus, it is possible to more surely prevent the lever-side lock portion from being unintentionally separated from the housing-side lock portion (that is, from being unintentionally released from the locking), than in a case where the reinforcing rib is absent as in the background-art connector.

According to the connector having the configuration, it is therefore possible to prevent unintentional movement of the lever as much as possible when fitting between the housings is not established.

Incidentally, the term “rigidity” means a force (load/deformation amount) required for generating a unit quantity of deformation in an object (the lever-side lock portion), and expresses a degree of difficulty in deforming the object. The rigidity includes bending rigidity, shearing rigidity, torsional rigidity, etc.

According to the connector having the aspect <2>, it is possible to prevent the locking between the lever-side lock portion and the housing-side lock portion from being unintentionally released, and further to prevent the lever from being separated from the first housing (that is, to prevent the lever from coming off). Specifically, if the reinforcing rib is provided in the lever-side lock portion as in the aspect <1>, the rigidity of the lever-side lock portion may become so high in some cases that a connection portion between the lever and the first housing can be deformed largely in place of deformation in the lever-side lock portion when the locking between the lever-side lock portion and the housing-side lock portion is released (that is, when the locking is intentionally released). Thus, the lever may be separated from the first housing (that is, the lever may come off). On the other hand, according to the connector having the aspect <2>, a cut is provided between the connection portion between the lever and the first housing, and the lever-side lock portion (as a result, the lever-side lock portion has a cantilever-like shape). Due to the cut, the connection portion is hardly deformed even when the lever-side lock portion is pushed by the temporary lock releasing portion, as compared with a case where the cut is absent. As a result, the lever and the first housing are hardly separated from each other (that is, the lever hardly comes off). Thus, the connector having the aspect <2> can make it compatible to attain both the prevention of the locking between the lever-side lock portion and the housing-side lock portion from being unintentionally released and the prevention of the lever from being separated from the first housing (that is, the prevention of the lever from coming off).

According to the connector having the aspect <3>, the temporary lock releasing portion of the second housing can be easily directed toward the lever-side lock portion through the guide slit at the fitting time. To say other words, the temporary lock releasing portion and the lever-side lock portion can be easily aligned with each other. Thus, according to the connector having the configuration, it is possible to further improve workability in the fitting step.

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, it is possible to provide a connector capable of preventing unintentional movement of a lever as much as possible when fitting between housings is not established.

One or more embodiments of invention have been described briefly above. The further details of the invention will be made clearer if the following embodiments described in the detailed description are read through with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiment

A connector according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown inFIG. 1, a connector10according to the embodiment of the invention includes a male housing100, a female housing200, and a lever300. The female housing200is fitted to the male housing100so that the female housing200can receive the male housing100(that is, the male housing100can be internally inserted into the female housing200). The lever300is rotatably attached to the female housing200. Incidentally, the connector10according to the embodiment is a connector for a board, in which the male housing100can be attached to an electronic circuit board or the like (not shown).

A “fitting direction”, a “width direction”, an “up/down direction”, a “front side”, a “rear side”, an “upper side”, a “lower side”, and a “rotating direction” of the lever300will be defined below as shown inFIG. 1. The “fitting direction”, the “width direction” and the “up/down direction” are perpendicular to one another. Further, a “time when the male housing100and the female housing200are fitted to each other” will be also referred to as “fitting time”.FIG. 1shows a state in which the lever300is in a temporary lock position. When the lever300is rotated forward in the rotating direction from the temporary lock position, the lever300moves toward a final lock position.

As shown inFIG. 1, the male housing100is made of resin and provided with a body peripheral wall portion101and a flange portion102. The body peripheral wall portion101is formed into an angular cylindrical shape long in the width direction. The flange portion102has a rectangular shape extending in the up/down direction and the width direction integrally from a rear end portion of the body peripheral wall portion101. Inside the body peripheral wall portion101, a plurality of terminal reception chambers103are formed in the fitting direction. A plurality of male terminals (not shown) formed in the male housing100by insert molding are received in the terminal reception chambers103respectively (also seeFIG. 12).

Temporary lock releasing ribs104are formed in the four corners of the body peripheral wall portion101respectively. The temporary lock releasing ribs104protrude outward in the up/down direction and extend forward in the fitting direction from the flange portion102. Central ribs105and bosses106are formed in central portions of upper and lower surfaces of the body peripheral wall portion101respectively. The central ribs105protrude outward in the up/down direction and extend forward in the fitting direction from the flange portion102. The bosses106are located in front end portions of the central ribs105and protrude outward in the up/down direction to be higher than the central ribs105, respectively. The temporary lock releasing ribs104and the bosses106will be described in detail later.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the female housing200is made of resin, and provided with a body peripheral wall portion201having an angular cylindrical shape long in the width direction. The male housing100and the female housing200are fitted so that an inner circumferential surface of the body peripheral wall portion201and an outer circumferential surface of the body peripheral wall portion101of the male housing100can overlap each other at the fitting time. Inside the body peripheral wall portion201, a plurality of terminal reception chambers202are formed in the fitting direction so that a plurality of female terminals (not shown) connected to end portions of electric wires (not shown) can be received in the terminal reception chambers202respectively.

Slits203are formed near opposite end portions of upper and lower surfaces of the body peripheral wall portions201in the up/down direction. The slits203penetrate the peripheral wall and extend rearward in the fitting direction from a front end portion of the body peripheral wall portion201. A front end of each slit203is open forward in the fitting direction. Each slit203extends rearward up to the vicinity of a central portion of the body peripheral wall portion201in the fitting direction. Central slits204are formed in central portions of the upper and lower surfaces of the body peripheral wall portion201respectively. The central slits204penetrate the peripheral wall and extend rearward in the fitting direction from the front end portion of the body peripheral wall portion201. A front end of each slit204is open forward in the fitting direction. Each slit204extends rearward up to the vicinity of the central portion of the body peripheral wall portion201in the fitting direction.

At the fitting time, the temporary lock releasing ribs104of the male housing100are inserted and guided into corresponding ones of the slits203respectively so that outside end portions of the temporary lock releasing ribs104in the up/down direction can protrude from the peripheral wall (that is, the temporary lock releasing ribs104can penetrate the peripheral wall), and the bosses106of the male housing100are inserted and guided into corresponding ones of the central slits204respectively so that outside end portions of the bosses106in the up/down direction can protrude from the peripheral wall (that is, the bosses106can penetrate the peripheral wall).

In the upper and lower surfaces of the body peripheral wall portion201, rotating shafts205are formed in rear positions of the rear end portions of the central slits204respectively so as to protrude outward in the up/down direction. A pair of holes303of the lever300(connection portions between the lever300and the female housing200) are fitted to the pair of rotating shafts205. Thus, the lever300can be attached to the female housing200rotatably around the pair of rotating shafts205.

In the upper and lower surfaces of the body peripheral wall portion201, temporary lock protrusions206are formed adjacently to the inner sides of the slits203in the width direction respectively so as to protrude outward in the up/down direction. The temporary lock protrusions206are provided to lock the lever300in a temporary lock position (as will be described in detail later).

A pair of ribs207are formed in each of opposite side surfaces of the body peripheral wall portion201in the width direction. The ribs207protrude outward in the width direction from the upper and lower walls, and extend in the fitting direction and in parallel to each other. As a result, a recess portion208sinking inward in the width direction is formed between each pair of ribs207. In a bottom surface of each recess portion208, a lock beak209is formed to protrude outward in the width direction. A step portion209ais formed in an outer end portion of each lock beak209in the width direction. The pairs of ribs207(the recess portions208) and the lock beaks209are provided so that the lever300located in a final lock position can be retained in the final lock position (as will be described in detail later).

As shown inFIG. 1andFIGS. 3 to 5, the lever300is made of resin and formed into an approximately U-shape, including a pair of side plate portions301and a connection portion302connecting one ends of the pair of side plate portions301with each other. A pair of holes303which are through holes are formed in the pair of side plate portions301. The pair of rotating shafts205of the female housing200are inserted into the pair of holes303so that the lever300can be rotated relatively to the female housing200(around the pair of rotating shafts205) in a state where the pair of side plate portions301have held the upper and lower surfaces of the female housing200.

Cuts305(for example, seeFIG. 5) such as slits are formed in front end portions of the pair of side plate portions301in the rotating direction respectively. As a result, in the front end portions of the pair of side plate portions301in the rotating direction, a pair of temporary lock arms304are formed adjacently to the pair of cuts305. Each temporary lock arm304has a long and narrow cantilever-like shape having a fixed end in the vicinity of a deepest portion of a corresponding one of the cuts305.

As shown inFIG. 1, in the state where the lever300is in the temporary lock position, front end portions304aof the pair of temporary lock arms304are located in rotating positions to the front of female housing200, and locked to the temporary lock protrusions206of the male housing200. Since the temporary lock arms304are locked to the temporary lock protrusions206, the lever300is locked in the temporary lock position while the lever300is inhibited from moving to the final lock position.

In an inner side surface of each temporary lock arm304in the up/down direction, a reinforcing rib306extending in the extending direction of the temporary lock arm304is formed in an opposite side end surface to a corresponding one of the cuts305(for example, seeFIG. 3andFIG. 4). Due to the reinforcing ribs306formed thus, rigidity can be enhanced against outward deformation of the temporary lock arms304in the up/down direction (in a direction away from the surface of the female housing200), as compared with a case where the reinforcing ribs306are absent. As a result, in the lever300located in the temporary lock position, the temporary lock arms304and the temporary lock protrusions206can be surely prevented from being unintentionally separated (released from the locking).

Tapered faces306aare formed in front end portions of the reinforcing ribs306in the extending directions thereof respectively. At the fitting time, the tapered faces306aof the pair of temporary lock arms304are pushed by front end surfaces104a(seeFIG. 1) of the corresponding temporary lock releasing ribs104of the male housing100so that the pair of temporary lock arms304can be elastically deformed outward in the up/down direction as shown by the arrows inFIG. 6. As a result, the locking of the temporary lock arms304by the temporary lock protrusions206is released so that the lever300can move forward in the rotating direction from the temporary lock position toward the final lock position.

As shown inFIG. 6, due to the existence of the pair of cuts305, the pair of temporary lock arms304are deformed preferentially when the temporary lock arms304are elastically deformed outward in the up/down direction. Thus, the side plate portions301as a whole (particularly around the pair of holes303) are hardly elastically deformed outward in the up/down direction. Therefore, the pair of holes303are hardly detached from the pair of rotating shafts205, as compared with a case where the cuts305are absent.

As a result, the lever300and the female housing200can be prevented from being easily separated (that is, the lever300can be prevented from easily coming off).

Grooves307are formed in the inner side surfaces of the pair of side plate portions301in the up/down direction respectively (for example, seeFIG. 3andFIG. 4). The pair of grooves307are provided to draw the pair of bosses106of the male housing100from entrance portions308of the grooves307to deepest portions309thereof as the lever300is rotated from the temporary lock position to the final lock position (as will be described in detail later). Incidentally, each groove307is defined by a side wall310located forward in the rotating direction, and a side wall311located rearward in the rotating direction and continuously to the side wall310.

A through hole312is formed in the connection portion302of the lever300. A base portion313is formed integrally with the connection portion302so as to close a rear part of the through hole312in the rotating direction from the back side of the connection portion302. The base portion313includes a pair of side plate portions314like flat plates, and a bottom plate portion315like a flat plate. The side plate portions314protrude on the back side from back side surfaces of the connection portion302, and face each other at a predetermined interval in the up/down direction. The bottom plate portion315connects protruding end portions of the pair of side plate portions314with each other. When the lever300is attached to the female housing200, outer side surfaces of the pair of side plate portions314in the up/down direction extend toward the female housing200and at a predetermined interval in a parallel direction to the pair of rotating shafts205of the female housing200.

In a front side surface of the bottom plate portion315, a cantilever-like lock arm316is formed integrally to extend forward in the rotating direction so as to have a fixed end on its rear side in the rotating direction. A lock hole317which is a through hole is formed in a front end portion of the lock arm316. On the front surface side of the lock arm316, a releasing arm318is formed integrally. The releasing arm318has a pair of arm portions319, and an operating portion320. The arm portions319extend rearward in the rotating direction, at an interval in the up/down direction and in parallel with each other from upper and lower positions of the lock hole317of the lock arm316respectively. The operating portion320connects front end portions of the pair of arm portions319with each other.

The base portion313and the lock arm316are provided so that the lever300located in the final lock position can be retained in the final lock position by the base portion313and the lock arm316in cooperation with a pair of the pairs of ribs207(one of the recess portions208) and one of the lock beaks209of the female housing200(seeFIG. 2).

Specifically, when the lever300is moved (rotated) from the temporary lock position toward the final lock position, the base portion313is received in the recess portion208so that the pair of side plate portions314can be held between the pair of ribs207. When the lever300reaches the final lock position in the state where the base portion313has been received in the recess portion208, the lock arm316abuts against the lock beak209and goes through elastic deformation on the front surface side of the lock arm316. Thus, the lock hole317of the lock arm316is locked to the step portion209aof the lock beak209.

Since the lock hole317is locked to the step portion209a, the lever300located in the final lock position can be retained in the final lock position. On the other hand, when the operating portion320of the releasing arm318is pushed toward the female housing200in this state, the lock arm316is elastically deformed on the front surface side to thereby release the locking of the lock hole317to the step portion209a. As a result, the lever300can move from the final lock position toward the temporary lock position (rearward in the rotating direction).

An operation in which the lever300attached to the female housing200is rotated from the temporary lock position to the final lock position to thereby draw the male housing100from a fitting start state to a fitting completion state will be described below briefly with reference toFIGS. 7 to 12.

First, the front surface of the female housing200in which the lever300has been locked in the temporary lock position and the front surface of the male housing100are disposed to face each other as shown inFIG. 7. As shown inFIG. 7, in the state where the lever300is in the temporary lock position, the base portion313has not been received in the recess portion208yet.

Next, as shown inFIG. 8, the male housing100is inserted into the female housing200to reach a fitting start state. In the fitting start state, the tapered faces306a(seeFIGS. 3 and 4) of the pair of temporary lock arms304are pushed by the front end surfaces104a(seeFIG. 1) of the corresponding temporary lock releasing ribs104of the male housing100respectively, so that the pair of temporary lock arms304are elastically deformed outward in the up/down direction. Thus, the lever300can move from the temporary lock position to the final lock position. In the fitting start state, the pair of bosses106of the male housing100are located in the entrance portions308(seeFIGS. 3 and 4) of the pair of grooves307of the lever300.

Staring in the fitting start state, the lever300is moved (rotated) from the temporary lock position toward the final lock position. Thus, as shown inFIG. 9, the side walls310of the grooves307push the bosses106toward the rear of the female housing200so that the bosses106(and hence the male housing100) can be drawn toward the rear of the female housing200in accordance with the advance of the movement (rotation) of the lever300. Further, as shown inFIG. 9andFIGS. 11 and 12, the base portion313begins to be received in the recess portion208when the lever300is moving from the temporary lock position to the final lock position.

Then, as shown inFIG. 10, when the lever300reaches the final lock position in the state where the base portion313has been received in the recess portion208, the bosses106reach the deepest portions309(seeFIGS. 3 and 4) of the grooves307to thereby bring the male housing100into the fitting completion state. At the same time, as described above, the lock hole317of the lock arm316is locked to the step portion209aof the lock beak209. Consequently, conductive connection between male terminals (not shown) and female terminals (not shown) provided in the male housing100and the female housing200respectively is completed while the lever300is retained in the final lock position.

Incidentally, in the above-described example, the locking of the pair of temporary lock arms304has been already released in the fitting start state (FIG. 8). However, the locking of the pair of temporary lock arms304may be still kept in the fitting start state. In this case, the male housing100is inserted up to the fitting start state in a state where the lever300has been retained in a position moving slightly rearward in the rotating direction from the temporary lock position. In the fitting start state, the tapered faces306a(seeFIGS. 3 and 4) of the pair of temporary lock arms304abut against the front end surfaces104a(seeFIG. 1) of the corresponding temporary lock releasing ribs104of the male housing100, but are not pushed by the front end surfaces104a. Accordingly, the pair of temporary lock arms304are not elastically deformed outward in the up/down direction. Thus, the lever300cannot move forward in the rotating direction from the temporary lock position.

In this state, the lever300located in the position moving slightly rearward in the rotating direction from the temporary lock position is moved forward in the rotating direction (toward the temporary lock position). Thus, the side walls310of the grooves307push the bosses106toward the rear of the female housing200(to receive the bosses106in the grooves307). Consequently, the tapered faces306aof the pair of temporary lock arms304are pushed by the front end surfaces104aof the corresponding temporary lock releasing ribs104so that the pair of temporary lock arms304can be elastically deformed outward in the up/down direction. As a result, the lever300can be brought into a state where the lever300can move from the temporary lock position toward the final lock position. Thus, the lever300can pass through the temporary lock position smoothly.

Incidentally, in order to release the fitting between the male housing100and the female housing200in the fitting completion state, the operating portion320of the releasing arm318is pushed to release the locking of the lock hole317to the step portion209aas described above. In this state, the lever300is moved rearward in the rotating direction from the final lock position toward the temporary lock position. With the movement of the lever300, the side walls311of the grooves307push the bosses106(and hence the male housing100) toward the front of the female housing200(that is, push out the bosses106from the grooves307). Thus, the male housing100is separated toward the front of the female housing200so that the fitting can be released.

According to the connector10according to the embodiment of the invention, the pair of temporary lock arms304provided in the lever300are locked to the temporary lock protrusions206of the female housing200when the lever300is in the temporary lock position. At the fitting time, the pair of temporary lock arms304are elastically deformed by the temporary lock releasing ribs104provided in the male housing100, so as to be released from the locking to the temporary lock protrusions206. Further, the temporary lock arms304have the reinforcing ribs306enhancing rigidity against deformation. Thus, it is possible to more surely prevent the temporary lock arms304and the temporary lock protrusions206from being unintentionally separated (released from the locking), as compared with a case where the reinforcing ribs are absent as in the above-described related-art connector. Thus, the lever300can be prevented from unintentionally moving from the temporary lock position when fitting between the housings is not established.

Further, in the lever300, the cuts305are provided between the pair of side plate portions301to be connected to the female housing200, and the pair of temporary lock arms304. As a result, each temporary lock arm304has a cantilever-like shape. Due to the cuts305, the vicinities of the connection portions (holes303) between the leer300and the female housing200are hardly deformed even when the temporary lock arms304are pushed by the temporary lock releasing ribs104, as compared with a case where the cuts are absent. As a result, the lever300and the female housing200are hardly separated from each other (that is, the lever300hardly comes off). Thus, it is possible to make it compatible to attain both the prevention of the temporary lock arms304and the temporary lock protrusions206from being unintentionally separated (released from locking), and the prevention of the lever300from being separated from the female housing200(that is, the prevention of the lever300from coming off).

In addition, at the fitting time, the temporary lock releasing ribs104of the male housing100can be easily directed toward the temporary lock arms304through the slits203. To say other words, the temporary lock releasing ribs104and the temporary lock arms304can be easily aligned with each other. Thus, it is possible to further improve workability at the fitting time.

Other Forms

Incidentally, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but various modifications can be used within the scope of the invention. For example, changes, improvements, etc. can be made on the invention without limiting the invention to the above-described embodiment. In addition, materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, arrangement places, etc. of respective constituent elements in the above-described embodiment are not limited. Any materials, any shapes, any dimensions, any numbers, any arrangement places, etc. may be used as long as the invention can be attained.

For example, although the lever300is attached to the female housing200in the above-described embodiment, the lever300may be attached to the male housing100. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the lever300is rotated from the temporary lock position to the final lock position so that the male housing100and the female housing200can be drawn toward each other. However, according to another configuration, the lever300may be moved in parallel from the temporary lock position to the final lock position so that the male housing100and the female housing200can be drawn toward each other.

Further, although the cuts305are provided between the side plate portions301of the lever300and the temporary lock arms304in the above-described embodiment, such cuts do not have to be provided. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the slits203for guiding the temporary lock releasing ribs104of the male housing100toward the temporary lock arms304of the lever300at the fitting time are provided in the female housing200. However, such slits do not have to be provided.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the temporary lock releasing ribs104are provided on the opposite sides of the body peripheral wall portion101of the male housing100in the width direction, and the slits203, the temporary lock protrusions206, the pairs of ribs207(the recess portions208) and the lock beaks209are provided on the opposite sides of the body peripheral wall portion201of the female housing200in the width direction. Thus, the connector10can operate even when the lever300is attached to either side of the female housing200in the width direction. However, when the lever300is attached to only one side of the female housing200in the width direction, a temporary lock releasing rib104may be provided only on one side of the body peripheral wall portion101of the male housing100in the width direction, and a slit203, a temporary lock protrusion206, a pair of ribs207(a recess portion208) and a lock beak209may be provided on only one side of the body peripheral wall portion201of the female housing200in the width direction.

Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the connector according to the invention will be summarized and listed briefly in the following items <1> to <3>.

<1> A connector (10) including: a first housing (200); a second housing (100) fittable to the first housing (200); and a lever (300) attachable to the first housing (200) to draw and fit the first housing and the second housing to each other by moving from a temporary lock position to a final lock position,

wherein the lever (300) includes a lever-side lock portion (304) which is elastically deformable in a first direction away from a surface of the first housing (200), and which includes a reinforcing rib (306) that enhances rigidity against a deformation of the lever-side lock protrusion (304),

wherein the first housing (200) includes a housing-side lock portion (206) which locks the lever-side lock portion (304) when the lever (300) is in the temporary lock position, which inhibits movement of the lever (300) to the final lock position when the housing-side lock portion (206) locks the lever-side lock portion (304), and which permits the lever (300) to move to the final lock position when the housing-side lock portion (206) is released from locking of the lever-side lock portion (304), and

wherein the second housing (100) includes a lock releasing portion (104) which pushes the lever-side lock portion (304) in the first direction so as to release locking between the lever-side lock portion (304) and the housing-side lock portion (206).

<2> The connector according to the item (1),

wherein the lever (300) further includes a connection portion (303) that is connected to the first housing (200) so that the lever (300) can perform the movement, and a cut (305) that is provided between the connection portion (303) and the lever-side lock portion (304), and

wherein the lever-side lock portion (304) has a cantilever-like shape having a fixed end near a deepest portion of the cut (305).

<3> The connector according to the item (1) or (2),

wherein the first housing (200) and the second housing (100) are fitted to each other such that a peripheral wall of the first housing (200) and a peripheral wall of the second housing (100) overlap each other, and

wherein the first housing (200) includes a guide slit (203) which penetrates the peripheral wall of the first housing and which extends in a fitting direction so as to guide the lock releasing portion (104) toward the lever-side lock portion (304) in a state in which the lock releasing portion (104) has penetrated the peripheral wall of the first housing (200).