Lever-type connector with locking member

A lever (60) is formed with a resiliently deformable lock arm (71) projecting substantially along a rotating direction of the lever (60). A housing (20) is formed with a base piece (27) standing in a direction crossing a connecting direction to a mating connector (90). An engaging portion (35) for holding the housing (20) and the mating connector (90) in the properly connected state by being resiliently engaged with a leading end part of the lock arm (71) is formed on a leading end part of the base piece (27). A recess (33) into which a finger (50) is insertable to disengage the engaging portion (35) and the lock arm (71) is formed in a base end part of the base piece (27).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a lever-type connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese Publication No. 2003-178837 discloses a connector with a housing and a lever to be mounted rotatably on the housing. The housing is connectable to a mating connector as the lever is rotated. The lever has an operating portion and a resiliently deformable lock arm projects from the operating portion substantially along a rotating direction of the lever. A base piece projects back from the rear end of the upper surface of the mating connector and an engaging portion projects up on a rear end part of the base piece.

The lever is engaged with the mating connector and is rotated forward from the back side. The lever exhibits a force multiplying action that enables the housing to be connected to the mating connector with a small operation force. A leading end part of the lock arm resiliently engages the engaging portion of the base piece when the operating portion of the lever reaches a position behind the mating connector. As a result, the lever is held on the mating connector and the mating connector and the housing are held in a connected state.

An engagement margin of the lock arm of the above-identified conventional lever-type connector with the engaging portion of the mating connector varies due to backlash between the lever-type connector and the mating connector. Further, the base piece and the lock arm project back from the rear end of the mating connector. Thus, a large space is required in a forward and backward connecting direction.

The above-described problems can be solved if the base piece and the engaging portion are formed on the housing. However, the leading end of the lock arm and the engaging portion then would be between the mating connector and the housing when the connectors are connected. Thus, a finger cannot easily be placed on the leading end of the lock arm or the engaging portion and a locking state is not released easily.

The invention was completed in view of the above situation and an object thereof is to improve operability in releasing a locking state of a lock arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lever-type connector with a housing that is connectable to a mating connector. A lever is mounted rotatably or pivotably on the housing. A resiliently deformable lock arm is formed on the lever and projects substantially along a rotating direction of the lever. A base piece is formed on the housing and stands in a direction crossing a connecting direction to the mating connector. Thus, the base piece and the lock arm do not project in the connecting direction and space efficiency is excellent. An engaging portion is formed on a leading end part of the base piece and resiliently engages a leading end part of the lock arm for holding the housing and the mating connector in the properly connected state. A recess is formed in a base end part of the base piece and can receive a finger to disengage the engaging portion and the lock arm. Therefore, the locking state of the lock arm can be released easily.

The lever can be rotated while engaged with the mating connector and a force multiplying action of the lever brings the housing and the mating connector to a properly connected state.

The mating connector may be coupled to an external member, such as a device or a substrate, and an insertion space for a finger may be between the external member and the base piece when the housing is connected to the mating connector. Therefore, it is difficult to insert the finger into the insertion space. However, the recess of the present invention ensures the insertion space for the finger.

The lock arm is arranged along an oblique direction crossing the connecting direction and a direction perpendicular to the connecting direction when the housing is connected to the mating connector. Thus, the entire length of the lock arm can be made longer with high space efficiency. As a result, an engagement margin of the lock arm with the engaging portion also can be made larger.

The base piece preferably is bent along the recess. As a result, the formation range of the recess is not limited to the thickness range of the base end part of the base piece and a degree of freedom in forming the recess can be increased. Further, the rigidity of the base piece is assured.

The base piece preferably includes a bent portion in an intermediate part projecting in a projecting direction. A leading part outside of the bent portion is at an angle different from 0° or 180° to a base part.

The base piece preferably includes a first piece located at the base side and projecting in the projecting direction from the housing and a second piece located at the leading end side and projecting in a direction substantially straight in an obliquely outward direction toward the front from the bend.

The entire base piece preferably is behind the front end of the housing and a leading end of the second piece preferably is slightly behind the front end of the housing.

The projecting direction of the second piece and the projecting direction of the engaging portion preferably are substantially perpendicular to each other.

A lock portion of the lever preferably is arranged substantially along the connecting direction and an arm body of the lever preferably is arranged along the oblique direction crossing the connecting direction and the direction perpendicular to the connecting direction so that the arm body and the engaging portion are substantially parallel when the lever is at the connection position.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A lever-type connector according to the invention is identified by the number10inFIGS. 1 to 8. The connector10includes a housing20and a lever60. The housing20is connectable to a mating connector90in a connecting direction CD. In the following description, an end to be connected to the mating connector90is referred to as the front concerning forward and backward directions FBD.

As shown inFIG. 2, the mating connector90is mounted directly on an external member100such as an auxiliary machine and includes a mating housing91made e.g. of synthetic resin. The mating housing91has a substantially rectangular tubular receptacle92that opens forward and unillustrated male tabs project into the receptacle92. Long narrow ribs93are formed on an outer side surface and lower surface of the receptacle92and extend in forward and backward directions FBD. Substantially cylindrical cam followers94project from the outer side surfaces of the receptacle92.

The housing20is made e.g. of synthetic resin and, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, includes a substantially block-shaped main body21and a substantially rectangular fitting tube22surrounds the main body21. A forwardly open insertion space23is formed between the main body21and the fitting tube22and can receive the receptacle92. Cavities24extend through the housing main body21in forward and backward directions FBD and unillustrated female terminal fittings are insertable into the respective cavities24and have larger and smaller sizes according to the sizes of the respective terminal fittings.

Two long narrow forwardly open slits25are formed in the side walls of the fitting tube22and extend in forward and backward directions FBD. As shown inFIG. 5, the ribs93are inserted into the slits25from the front, thereby guiding a connecting operation to the mating connector90and preventing erroneous connection to the mating connector90. Two substantially cylindrical supporting shafts26project on rear end parts of the outer side surfaces of the fitting tube22at substantially the same height as the cam followers94, as shown inFIG. 2.

As shown inFIG. 2, a base piece27is formed on a front end part of the upper outer surface of the fitting tube22projects up in a direction PD1that is substantially perpendicular to the connecting direction CD. A bend28is formed in a substantially central part the base piece27in the projecting direction PD1, as shown inFIG. 8and a leading end above the bend28is at an angle to a base end. Specifically, the base piece27includes first and second pieces31and32on opposite sides of the bend28. The first piece31projects substantially straight up in the projecting direction PD1substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the fitting tube22. The second piece32is substantially straight and projects obliquely up from the bend28in a direction PD2. The entire base piece27is behind the front end of the housing20.

A recess33is formed by depressing the front surface of a base end part of the base piece27over the entire width of the base piece27and a finger50can be inserted into the recess33from the front, as shown inFIG. 8. On the other hand, a projection34projects back from the rear surface of the base end part of the base piece27at a position substantially opposite the recess33. The recess33is defined by the front surfaces of the first and second pieces31,32and the projection34is defined by the rear surfaces of the first and second pieces31,32.

An engaging portion35projects from a substantially widthwise central part of a leading end of the second piece32and extends obliquely up and back in an oblique direction OD that crosses both the connecting direction CD and the direction perpendicular to the connecting direction CD. A projecting direction PD2of the second piece32and the projecting direction OD of the engaging portion35are substantially perpendicular. A locking step36in the form of a substantially rectangular recess is formed in a substantially widthwise central part of the front end of the upper surface of the engaging portion35. An engaging surface37is formed at the rear of the locking step36and extends substantially parallel to the projecting direction PD2of the second piece32. Further, a rear part of the engaging portion35is thinned gradually toward the leading rear end and a guiding surface38is formed on the upper side of the engaging portion35. The guiding surface38is inclined obliquely out and up.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, two protecting walls39stand at opposite widthwise sides of the base piece27, on the front end part of the upper outer surface of the fitting tube22. The protecting walls39protect base piece27from external matter.

The lever60is a substantially U-shaped member made e.g. of synthetic resin, as shown inFIG. 7. Specifically, the lever60has an operating portion61that extends along the width direction WD and two parallel arms62project from the opposite ends of the operating portion61. A substantially circular bearing63penetrates each arm62, as shown inFIG. 2. A cam groove64is formed in the inner surface of each arm62and is open at the outer peripheral edge. The lever60is mounted to cross over the housing20from above and the supporting shafts26are fit in the bearings63. Thus, the lever60is rotatable about the supporting shafts26between an initial position IP and a connection position CP. The cam followers94are inserted into the cam grooves64with the lever60at the initial position IP. The lever60then is rotated toward the connection position CP. As a result, the cam followers94slide along inner surfaces of the cam grooves64. A force multiplying action is created between the lever60and the mating connector90so that the mating connector90is pulled toward the housing20with a small operating force. The cam followers94reach the back ends of the cam grooves64at the connection position CP and the housing20is connected properly to the mating connector90.

Each arm62is cut to form a resiliently deformable resilient locking piece65. As shown inFIG. 6, tip projections66of the resilient locking pieces65engage the inner edges of the slits25to hold the lever60at the initial position IP. Further, the ribs93enter the slits25at an initial stage of the connecting operation and disengage the tip projections66of the resilient locking pieces65from the inner edges of the slits25, thereby permitting the lever60to rotate in a rotating direction RD toward the connection position CP.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, the lock arm71is formed in a substantially widthwise central part of the operating portion61and is resiliently engageable with the engaging portion35. A back plate72is formed on a rear end of the operating portion61, and the lock arm71cantilevers forward from the front surface of this back plate72. The lock arm71is resiliently deformable out and in or up and down relative to the end that is connected to the back plate72. In the case of this embodiment, the lock arm71is aligned obliquely out or up toward the front at the initial position IP (seeFIG. 2), but is aligned obliquely down toward the front at the connection position CP (seeFIG. 1). In other words, the lock arm71is arranged substantially along the rotating direction RD of the lever60from the initial position IP to the connection position CP.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, the lock arm71is substantially U-shaped and includes two arms73extending substantially perpendicularly from the back plate72and substantially facing in the width direction WD, and the lock74connecting the leading ends of the arms73and extending in the width direction WD. A lock hole75is formed by the arms73and the lock74. A locking surface76is formed on the rear of the lock74and can come into contact with the engaging surface37of the engaging portion35, as shown inFIG. 8. The lock74is thicker than the arms73and projects slightly upwardly with respect to the arms73. Note that the entire length of the lock arm71is in such a range as to be accommodated in the width range of the operating portion61in forward and backward directions FBD.

As shown inFIG. 7, two plate-like protection walls77project on the operating portion61at opposite widthwise sides of the lock arm71to protect the lock arm71from external matter. Two covering portions78project in from the inner surfaces of the protection walls77. The covering portions78are connected unitarily to the back plate72and cover base end parts of the arms73from above or outside. The covering portions78prevent an inadvertent unlocking by the finger50on the arms73and prevent the lock arm71from being turned up. Note that the lock74and the lock hole75are not covered by the covering portions78.

As shown inFIG. 2, the lever60initially is held at the initial position IP and the housing20is positioned to face the mating connector90in this state. At this time, the operating portion61of the lever60projects back from the rear end of the housing20. Further, the entrances of the cam grooves64of the lever60are open forward and face the cam followers94of the mating connector90. In this state, as shown inFIG. 3, the housing20is fit lightly to the mating connector90so that the cam followers94are introduced into the entrances of the cam grooves64and the ribs93are introduced into the slits25. The ribs93cause the resilient locking pieces65to retract from the slits25. As a result, the operating portion61can be gripped to rotate the lever60in the rotating direction RD toward the connection position CP.

The lock74of the lock arm71moves onto the guiding surface38of the engaging portion35before the lever60reaches the connection position CP, as shown inFIG. 4, and the arms73deform resiliently up or out. The arms73resiliently restore when the lever60reaches the connection position CP, as shown inFIG. 1. As a result, the lock74is fit into the locking step36and the engaging portion35is fit into the lock hole75. In this way, the locking surface76of the lock74faces the engaging surface37of the engaging portion35from the front to prevent a returning movement of the lever60to the initial position IP. At the connection position CP, the lock74is arranged substantially horizontally along the connecting direction CD (forward and backward directions FBD) and the arms73are arranged along the oblique direction OD crossing the connecting direction CD and the direction perpendicular to the connecting direction CD. That is, the both arms73are substantially parallel to the engaging portion35. As shown inFIG. 5, the protection walls77are at the outer sides of the protecting portions39.

The lever60is held immovably on the housing20at the connection position CP and, consequently, the housing20is held inseparably on the mating connector90. Further, at the connection position CP, the respective terminal fittings are connected electrically to the corresponding male tabs at proper depths.

To separate the housing20from the mating connector90, it is necessary to release the locking state of the lock arm71and rotate the lever60to the initial position IP. The mating connector90is coupled to the external member100in the case of this embodiment. Thus, an insertion space80is formed between the lock arm71, the base piece27and the external member100as shown inFIG. 1to receive the finger50for unlocking the lock arm71. However, this insertion space80tends to be narrow and small and it is difficult to place the finger50on the lock74of the lock arm71.

Accordingly, the recess33is formed in the base end part of the base piece27, as shown inFIG. 8, so that the finger50can be inserted easily into the insertion space80by inserting the tip of the finger50into the recess33. The tip of the finger50inserted into the recess33can be slid out or up along the inner surface of the recess33and can be brought into contact with the lock74from inside or below. The tip of the finger50is pulled out or up away from the fitting tube22in this state. Thus, the lock74is lifted up to disengage from the engaging portion35and the lever60is permitted to return to the initial position IP. The cam followers94reach the entrances of the cam grooves64when the lever60is rotated to the initial position IP and the housing20can be pulled apart from the mating connector90.

As described above, the lever60of this embodiment is formed with the resiliently deformable lock arm71projecting substantially along the rotating direction RD of the lever60, the housing20is formed with the base piece27standing in the direction PD1perpendicular to the connecting direction CD (forward and backward directions FBD) to the mating connector90, and the engaging portion35for resiliently engaging the lock arm71is formed on the leading end part of the base piece27. Thus, the base piece27and the lock arm71do not project in the connecting direction CD and space efficiency is excellent. Further, the recess33is formed in the base end part of the base piece27and can receive the finger50to release the locking state of the lock arm71so that the engaging portion35and the lock arm71can be disengaged easily. Therefore, operability in releasing the locking state of the lock arm71can be improved.

The arms73of the lock arm71are arranged in the oblique direction OD crossing the connecting direction CD and its perpendicular direction when the housing20is connected to the mating connector90. Thus, the entire length of the lock arm71can be made longer with high space efficiency. As a result, an engagement margin of the lock arm71with the engaging portion35also can be made larger.

Further, the base piece27is bent along the recess33. Hence, the formation range of the recess33is not limited to the thickness range of the base end part of the base piece27and a degree of freedom in forming the recess33can be increased. In addition, a reduction in the rigidity of the base piece27can be prevented.

The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment. For example, the following embodiments also are included in the scope of the invention.

The mating connector may be a board connector to be mounted on a printed circuit board or any other mating connector e.g. provided on a wiring harness, an electric device or the like.

The base piece may project in a direction not perpendicular to the connecting direction, but crossing the connecting direction.

The lock arm may be supported on both ends.

The lever may be a single plate.

The lever may include a force multiplying mechanism utilizing a rack and a pinion or a leverage action between the lever and the mating connector.

The housing may be a male connector housing including a receptacle into which male tabs project, and the mating connector may be a female connector that accommodates female terminal fittings.