A lever-type connector includes a mating housing, a housing that is fitted into and removed from the mating housing, and a lever that is rotatably supported by the housing and fits the housings to each other. The lever includes a temporary locking arm portion that has a temporary locking portion, the housing includes a temporarily locked portion that is temporarily locked to and unlocked from the temporary locking portion of the temporary locking arm portion, the mating housing includes a release rib portion that releases a temporary locking state of the temporary locking portion of the temporary locking arm portion and the temporarily locked portion of the housing, and a cam groove of the lever includes a boss receiving portion that receives the cam boss when the mating housing and the housing are temporarily set.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-129747, filed on Jul. 12, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a lever-type connector in which connectors can be fitted to each other with low insertion force due to rotation of a lever.

BACKGROUND

JP 2017-168391 A discloses this type of lever-type connector. This lever-type connector includes a housing having a fitting cylindrical portion that is fitted into and removed from a hood portion of a mating housing. In addition, the lever-type connector includes a lever. The lever is rotatably supported, via bearings, by support shafts on both sides of the fitting cylindrical portion of the housing, and has a cam groove that engages with a cam follower arranged in the hood portion of the mating housing. By rotating the operating portion, the cam groove is engaged with the cam follower and thus the housings are fitted to each other. A shaft center of the cam follower in the mating housing, the cam follower being engaged with the cam groove of the lever, is shifted in position toward the operating portion, which is upward of a shaft center of the bearing of the lever in a vertical direction (direction orthogonal to fitting direction of housing and mating housing).

In the lever-type connector, the cam follower of the mating housing abuts against a gentle slope of the cam groove of the lever. Therefore, when the mating housing is pushed further into the housing from a temporary set state of both housings, the lever may rotate, and a female terminal of the housing and a male terminal of the mating housing may be fitted into a position where these terminals can be electrically conducted.

SUMMARY

The present application has been achieved in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the application is to provide a lever-type connector that can prevent rotation of a lever when both housings are temporarily set, and that can prevent electrical conduction between terminals of the housings before the lever is operated.

A lever-type connector according to a first aspect of the present application includes a mating housing having a cam boss, a housing that is fitted into and removed from the mating housing, and a lever that is rotatably supported by the housing via a support shaft, has a cam groove engaging with the cam boss, and is rotated from a temporary locking position to cause the cam groove to engage with the cam boss, thus moving the mating housing toward the housing and fitting the mating housing and the housing to each other. The lever includes a temporary locking arm portion that has a temporary locking portion and is elastically deformable, and the housing includes a temporarily locked portion that is temporarily locked to and unlocked from the temporary locking portion of the temporary locking arm portion. Further, the mating housing includes a release rib portion that releases a temporary locking state of the temporary locking portion of the temporary locking arm portion and the temporarily locked portion of the housing, and the cam groove of the lever includes a boss receiving portion that receives the cam boss when the temporary locking state of the temporary locking portion of the temporary locking arm portion and the temporarily locked portion of the housing is released in a state where the mating housing and the housing are temporarily set.

A lever-type connector according to a second aspect of the present application relates to the lever-type connector according to the first aspect. A projecting temporary set beak portion is formed on a lower surface of the release rib portion, and the housing includes a temporary set arm portion that prevents the mating housing from being removed from the housing, the mating housing and the housing being in a temporary set state when a temporary locking state of the temporary locking portion of the temporary locking arm portion of the lever and the temporarily locked portion of the housing is released. In addition, a distal end of the temporary set arm portion includes a projection that slides along the lower surface of the release rib portion, and the temporary locking state of the temporary locking portion of the temporary locking arm portion of the lever and the temporarily locked portion of the housing is released at a position where the projection is across the temporary set beak portion from the lower surface of the release rib portion.

With the configuration described above, it is possible to provide a lever-type connector that can prevent the rotation of the lever when the mating housing and the housing are temporarily set, and that can prevent electrical conduction between terminals of the housings before the lever is operated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a lever-type connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and may differ from the actual ratios.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a lever-type connector10includes a male housing (mating housing)11that is made of synthetic resin and has a cam boss12, a female housing (housing)20that is made of synthetic resin and is fitted into and removed from the male housing11, and a lever30made of synthetic resin. The lever30is rotatably supported by a support shaft23arranged in the female housing20, and has a cam groove35that engages with the cam boss12of the male housing11. By rotating an operating portion31of the lever30, the cam groove35is engaged with the cam boss12and thus the male housing11is made to move toward the female housing20, so that the male housing11and the female housing20are fitted to each other. InFIG. 1, the direction in which the male housing11and the female housing20are fitted to each other is referred to as “fitting direction”, the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction, in which the cam bosses12formed on both side surfaces11b,11bof the male housing11are connected, is referred to as “width direction”, and the vertical direction in the figure orthogonal to the fitting direction and the width direction, in which an upper surface21cand a bottom surface of the female housing20are connected, is referred to as “height direction”. Note that the directions such as “longitudinal” and “vertical” are defined for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the actual mounting orientations of the respective elements.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the male housing11has, on the front side (one fitting-direction side), a hood portion11athat is inserted into a hood portion22of the female housing20. The cylindrical cam boss12is integrally formed in a projecting manner at a center in the height direction of each of the side surfaces11b,11bof the male housing11in the width direction. A release rib portion13extending in the longitudinal direction (fitting direction) is integrally formed in a projecting manner under (on one height-direction side of) the cam boss12on each of the side surfaces11b,11bof the male housing11. A distal end13aof the release rib portion13on one fitting-direction side functions as a release portion that releases a temporary locking state of a cutaway portion (temporarily locked portion)25of the female housing20and a temporary locking projection (temporary locking portion)36aof a temporary locking arm portion36of the lever30, which will be described later. A trapezoidal temporary set beak portion14is integrally formed in a projecting manner at a center in the fitting direction of a lower surface13cof the release rib portion13in the height direction. As illustrated inFIG. 2, a slope13bis formed on the back side (other fitting-direction side) of the distal end13aof the release rib portion13. The trapezoidal temporary set beak portion14has a front slope14aon one fitting-direction side, a straight surface14b, and a back slope14con the other fitting-direction side. In the hood portion11aof the male housing11, a tab portion of a male terminal (terminal), which is not illustrated, is exposed.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the female housing20includes a block-like housing main body21having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers21a, and the hood portion22that is integrally formed in a projecting manner on the front side (other fitting-direction side) of the housing main body21and into which the hood portion Ila of the male housing11is fitted. The support shaft23is integrally formed in a projecting manner at a center in the height direction of each of side surfaces21b,21bof the housing main body21in the width direction. An elastically deformable locking arm portion24is integrally formed in a projecting manner on the front side (other fitting-direction side) at a center in the width direction of the upper surface21cof the housing main body21in the height direction. A receiving portion24bis integrally formed in a projecting manner at a free end (distal end)24aof the locking arm portion24.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3, the substantially rectangular cutaway portion (temporarily locked portion)25is formed on the front side (other fitting-direction side) at a center in the height direction of each of side portions of the hood portion22of the female housing20in the width direction. That is, the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36of the lever30to be described later is temporarily locked to or unlocked from a lower edge25aof each cutaway portion25in the height direction. When the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36is temporarily locked to the lower edge25aof the cutaway portion25, the lever30is held at a temporary lock position.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3, a double-supported temporary set arm portion26is integrally formed to be elastically deformable on the front side (other fitting-direction side) of the lower edge25aof each cutaway portion25. A projection26ais formed on an upper surface (other height-direction side) closer to the front side (other fitting-direction side) of the temporary set arm portion26. The projection26aslides along the lower surface13cof the release rib portion13. The temporary set arm portion26functions to prevent the male housing11from being removed from the female housing20, the male housing11and the female housing20being in a temporary set state when the lever30is unlocked from the temporary locking position, until the projection26aslides along the lower surface13cof the release rib portion13and reaches a position across the temporary set beak portion14.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a rectangular cylindrical front holder29that is made of synthetic resin and has a front wall portion29ais fitted to the periphery of a plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers21aof the housing main body21in the hood portion22of the female housing20. A rectangular annular packing28made of rubber is interposed between the hood portion22of the female housing20and the periphery of the terminal accommodating chambers21aof the housing main body21. The front wall portion29aof the front holder29includes a plurality of rectangular openings29bcommunicating with the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers21aof the housing main body21. A female terminal (not illustrated) is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber21aof the housing main body21. The female terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber21aof the housing main body21is held by a lance (not illustrated) arranged in the terminal accommodating chamber21a.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4A, the lever30includes the operating portion31and a pair of arm portions32,32extending from both sides of the operating portion31in the width direction.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4A, a locking projection33is formed on the lower side (one height-direction side) at a center in the width direction of the operating portion31of the lever30. When the lever30is rotated to a rotation completion position, the locking projection33is locked to the receiving portion24bof the locking arm portion24in the female housing20. This locking brings about a rotation restricting state where the rotation of the lever30is restricted. The lock state of the locking projection33of the lever30and the receiving portion24bof the locking arm portion24in the female housing20is released by pressing the side of the free end24aof the locking arm portion24downward (one height-direction side) so as to detach the receiving portion24bof the locking arm portion24from the locking projection33.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4A, a bearing hole34that is rotatably supported by the support shaft23is formed on the back side (one fitting-direction side) of each arm portion32of the lever30. The arcuate recessed cam groove35is formed in each of the inner sides of the arm portions32(sides at which arm portions32face to each other in width direction). The temporary locking arm portion36that is elastically deformable and has the temporary locking projection (temporary locking portion)36aat its distal end is integrally formed on each of the lower sides (one height-direction side) of the arm portions32. The temporary locking state of the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36in the lever30and the lower edge25aof the cutaway portion25in the female housing20is released by the distal end13aof the release rib portion13in the male housing11. It is configured that immediately after the temporary locking state is released by the distal end13a(after temporary locking state is released or at the same time when temporary locking state is released), the projection26aof the temporary set arm portion26in the female housing20is moved across the temporary set beak portion14of the release rib portion13in the male housing11. That is, at the position where the projection26aof the temporary set arm portion26in the female housing20is moved across the back slope14cof the temporary set beak portion14in the male housing11to abut against the lower surface13cof the release rib portion13, the temporary locking state of the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36in the lever30and the lower edge25aof the cutaway portion25in the female housing20is completely released by the distal end13aof the release rib portion13in the male housing11.

As illustrated inFIGS. 4A, 4B, 7, and 9, the cam groove35of the arm portion32in the lever30includes a boss receiving portion35bthat receives the cam boss12of the male housing11. The boss receiving portion35bis formed by cutting, in an L shape, the lower side (one height-direction side) of the cam groove35closer to an entrance35aof the cam boss12. The boss receiving portion35bfunctions when the temporary locking state of the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36and the cutaway portion25of the female housing20is released in a state where the male housing11and the female housing20are temporarily set.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 6, a protrusion15parallel to the release rib portion13in the fitting direction is integrally formed in a projecting manner on the back side (on other fitting-direction side of) of the cam boss12on each of the side surfaces11b,11bof the male housing11. As illustrated inFIG. 5, when the male housing11is inserted into the hood portion22of the female housing20, the protrusion15of the male housing11is accommodated and guided in a recess22bon each of both sides of a flange portion22aof the hood portion22in the female housing20. When the lever30is rotated from a temporary locking position to a rotation completion position, the locking projection33of the lever30is locked to the receiving portion24bof the locking arm portion24in the female housing20and maintained in a rotation restricting state. At this time, the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36formed on the arm portion32of the lever30is moved to a hole27formed from the lower edge25aof the cutaway portion25made on each of both sides of the hood portion22in the female housing20downward (toward one height-direction side) of the cutaway portion25, and then is accommodated in the hole27.

As described above, according to the lever-type connector10of the embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 to 7, when the hood portion11aof the male housing11is pushed into the hood portion22of the female housing20, the distal end13aof the release rib portion13in the male housing11abuts against the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36of the lever30. Immediately before this abutment, the cam boss12of the male housing11enters the cam groove35of the lever30.

Thereafter, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the cam boss12of the male housing11abuts against the boss receiving portion35bof the cam groove35of the lever30. As a result, even if the hood portion11aof the male housing11is pushed further into the hood portion22of the female housing20, the rotation of the operating portion31of the lever30in a direction of an arrow C is prevented (force vector is prevented from tilting when food portion11ais pushed further into food portion22). Consequently, the position of the lever30when the male housing11and the female housing20are temporarily set is restricted. Since the boss receiving portion35bthat receives the cam boss12of the male housing11is formed in the cam groove35of the lever30as described above, it is possible to prevent the lever30from rotating in the direction of the arrow C when the male housing11and the female housing20are temporarily set. Further, before the operating portion31of the lever30is operated, it is possible to reliably prevent electrical conduction between terminals of the male housing11and the female housing20in a state where the male housing11and the female housing20are temporarily set.

In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 9, when the cam boss12of the male housing11abuts against the boss receiving portion35bof the cam groove35of the lever30, the distal end13aof the release rib portion13of the male housing11abuts against the temporary locking arm portion36of the lever30and pushes the temporary locking arm portion36upward. As a result, the temporary locking state of the cutaway portion25of the female housing20and the temporary locking projection36aof the temporary locking arm portion36of the lever30starts to be released. Since the cam boss12of the male housing11is received by the boss receiving portion35bof the cam groove35of the lever30as described above, the same structure makes it possible to temporarily set the male housing11and the female housing20, and release the temporary locking state of the temporary locking arm portion36of the lever30.

When the operating portion31of the lever30is rotated, the cam groove35of the arm portion32of the lever30engages with the cam boss12of the male housing11and thus the male housing11is made to move toward the female housing20, so that the male housing11and the female housing20are fitted to each other. When the lever30is completely rotated, the locking projection33on the lower side of the operating portion31of the lever30is locked to the receiving portion24bof the locking arm portion24in the female housing20, which brings about the rotation restricting state where the rotation of the lever30is restricted.

While the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

That is, according to the embodiment described above, the cutaway portion of the female housing functioning as a temporarily locked portion and the temporary locking projection of the temporary locking arm portion of the lever functioning as a temporary locking portion are temporarily locked to each other, however, the temporarily locked portion may be a recess, a protrusion, or the like besides the cutaway portion.

Next, a comparative example will be described. A lever-type connector1according to the comparative example includes a housing2having a fitting cylindrical portion2athat is fitted into and removed from a hood portion7aof a mating housing7. In addition, the lever-type connector1includes a lever4. The lever4is rotatably supported, via bearings5, by support shafts3on both sides of the fitting cylindrical portion2aof the housing2, and has a cam groove6that engages with a cam follower8arranged in the hood portion7aof the mating housing7. By rotating an operating portion4a, the cam groove6is engaged with the cam follower8and thus the housings2and7are fitted to each other.

The shaft center of the cam follower8in the mating housing7, the cam follower8being engaged with the cam groove6of the lever4, is shifted in position toward the operating portion4a, which is upward of the shaft center of the bearing5of the lever4in a vertical direction (direction orthogonal to fitting direction of housing2and mating housing7). For this reason, when the housings2and7are properly fitted, a terminal end portion6aof the cam groove6that receives the cam follower8is located closer to the operating portion4athan the bearing5. Compared to a case where the terminal end portion6aand the bearing5are located at the same height, the amount that the cam groove6extends to the side of the bearing5opposite to the side of the bearing5closer to the operating portion4a(lower side) can be reduced, and thus it is possible to prevent the lever4from becoming large in the vertical direction.

However, in the lever-type connector1according to the comparative example, the cam follower8of the mating housing7abuts against a gentle slope of the cam groove6of the lever4. For this reason, when the mating housing7is pushed further into the housing2from a temporarily set state of the housings2and7, the lever4may rotate, and a female terminal2A of the housing2and a male terminal9of the mating housing7may be fitted into a position where these terminals2A and9can be electrically conducted.