CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

A connector of the present disclosure includes a housing, a detecting member displaceable or pushable forward from a standby position to a detection position, and a cover mounted on a rear end part of the housing. The cover includes a cover lock portion, a vertical portion provided on a rear end of the cover lock portion and a tapered portion continuous from the vertical portion. A rear end of the detecting member at the standby position is disposed at a position behind the vertical portion and along the tapered portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-119850, filed on Jul. 24, 2023, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a connector and to a corresponding connector assembly.

BACKGROUND

A female connector described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2022-032086 is known as a connector provided with a connection detecting member. This female connector is provided with a female housing for accommodating female terminals (not shown) inside and a connection detecting member for detecting a connected state. The female housing includes a CPA accommodating portion for accommodating the connection detecting member. The CPA accommodating portion has a bottom wall and a pair of protection walls extending perpendicularly from both end sides of the bottom wall. The connection detecting member includes an operating portion serving as a body. By pushing the operating portion with a finger, the connection detecting member is slid from a temporary locking position to a complete locking position and it is detected that a male connector and the female connector are in a connected state.

SUMMARY

However, since the pair of protection walls are arranged on both left and right sides of the operating portion and the bottom wall is arranged below the operating portion in the above connector, it is difficult to bring a finger into contact with the operating portion. For example, it is extremely difficult to bring the finger into contact with the operating portion in an environment where the connector cannot be directly seen by the eyes.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve operability of a connector and connector assembly.

This object is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Particular embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector, comprising: a housing; a detecting member including a operating portion, the detecting member being movable from a standby position to a detection position with respect to the housing by the operating portion being displaced substantially forward; and a cover to be mounted the housing, the cover including at least one cover lock portion, a vertical portion provided on a distal end of the cover lock portion and a tapered portion substantially continuous from the vertical portion, and a rear end of the detecting member at the standby position being disposed at a position behind the vertical portion and substantially along the tapered portion.

According to a particular embodiment, there is provided a connector with a housing, a detecting member including a push-in portion, the detecting member being movable from a standby position to a detection position with respect to the housing by the push-in portion being pushed in forward, and a cover mounted on a rear end part of the housing, the cover including a cover lock portion, a vertical portion provided on a rear end of the cover lock portion and a tapered portion continuous from the vertical portion, and a rear end of the detecting member at the standby position being disposed at a position behind the vertical portion and along the tapered portion.

In displacing or moving (e.g. pushing) the detecting member from the standby position to the detection position, e.g. a finger can be brought into contact with the rear end of the detecting member by placing the finger on the tapered portion of the cover and moving the finger along the tapered portion. Once the finger contacts the rear end of the detecting member, the finger can be moved to the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion) by sliding from there. By doing so, the position of the detecting member can be correctly grasped and the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion) can be displaced (e.g. pushed in) forward, for example, in an environment where the connector cannot be directly seen by the eyes. Thus, the operability of the detecting member and overall of the connector can be improved.

Particularly, the detecting member includes at least one detection arm and the operating portion (particularly the push-in portion) coupled to a rear end part of the detection arm, the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion) having at least one push-in surface.

Further particularly, at least one push-in enlarged surface substantially continuous with the push-in surface is formed on or near a corner part facing the tapered portion, out of the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion).

Since the finger particularly contacts the push-in enlarged surface by being moved along the tapered portion, the finger is easily brought into contact with the detecting member. Thereafter, the detecting member can be pushed in forward by moving the finger from the push-in enlarged surface to the push-in surface.

Further particularly, the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion) has an oblong or long shape in a width direction, and a pair of protruding portions are formed to obliquely extend further rearward than the push-in surface on or near both end parts in the width direction of the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion).

Since fingers can be hooked on the protruding portions in pulling out the detecting member from the detection position to the standby position, an operation of pulling out the detecting member can be easily performed.

Further particularly, at least one locking projection is formed at a position at or near a front end part of the detection arm engageable with at least one locking portion of the housing, so that the detecting member particularly is held at the standby position and a movement thereof to the detection position is suppressed.

Further particularly, wherein the detection arm comprises at least one temporary locking portion displaced from the locking projection on the detection arm so as to be lockable to at least one temporary locking projection of the housing, so that the detecting member particularly is holdable at the standby position while being prevented from being displaced away from the housing.

Further particularly, the connector further comprises a movable member (such as a lever) movably or displaceably (particularly rotatably or pivotably) arranged on the housing between an initial position and a completion position, so as to display a cam action for assisting a connection and/or separation of the connector and a mating connector.

Further particularly, the housing comprises a lock arm movably provided thereon, wherein the lock arm has at least one lock receiving portion lockable to at least one lock portion of the movable member so as to hold the movable member at the completion position.

Further particularly, the lock arm includes a base end portion connected to a housing body portion of the housing, an arm portion substantially extending rearward from the base end portion and the at least one lock receiving portion formed on or near a rear end part of the arm portion.

According to another aspect, there is provided a connector assembly comprising a connector according to the above aspect or a particular embodiment thereof and a mating connector connectable therewith.

According to the above, the operability of a detecting member can be improved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A specific example of a connector of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. For the convenience of description, some components may be shown in an exaggerated or simplified manner in each drawing. Further, a dimension ratio of each part may be different in each figure. “Parallel”, “perpendicular” and “orthogonal” in this specification mean not only strictly parallel, perpendicular and orthogonal, but also substantially parallel, perpendicular and orthogonal within a range in which functions and effects in the embodiment are achieved.

In each figure, three directions perpendicular to each other are shown and these three directions are respectively shown as a front-rear direction X, a lateral direction Y and a vertical direction Z. That is, the front-rear direction X and the lateral direction Y are perpendicular to each other, the lateral direction Y and the vertical direction Z are perpendicular to each other and the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction X are perpendicular to each other. The front-rear direction X is based on a connection direction of the connector, and a connection surface side of the connector is referred to as a front side. The lateral direction Y and the vertical direction Z are based on lateral and vertical directions when viewed from the connection surface side.

Further, a term “tubular” used in the description of this specification indicates not only a shape formed by a peripheral wall continuous over an entire periphery in a circumferential direction, but also a tubular shape formed by combining a plurality of components and a shape having a cut or the like in a circumferential part such as a C shape. Further, the “tubular” shapes include substantially circular shapes, elliptical shapes and polygonal shapes with angular or rounded corners.

Further, a term “ring” in this specification means an arbitrary closed shape having an outer edge connected by straight lines or curves, including a circular ring substantially having a circular outer edge, a ring substantially having an elliptical or oval outer edge, a polygonal ring substantially having a polygonal outer edge and/or a ring substantially having a polygonal outer edge with rounded corners. The “ring” may be shaped such that an outer edge shape and an inner edge shape have the same shape or may be shaped such that an outer edge shape and an inner edge shape are different. The “ring” may have a predetermined length along a center axis direction, and the length does not matter. Further, an “annular shape” in this specification only has to be regarded as a ring as a whole and may include at least one cut, at least one slit or the like in a part such as a C shape.

Further, “facing each other” in this specification indicates that surfaces or members are at positions in front of each other, and means not only a case where the surfaces or members are at positions perfectly in front of each other, but also a case where the surfaces or members are at positions partially substantially in front of each other. Further, “facing each other” in this specification means both a case where another member different from two parts at least partly is interposed between the two parts and a case where nothing is interposed between the two parts.

EMBODIMENT

Configuration of Connector10

A connector10is a connector connectable to a mating connector (not shown).

The mating connector particularly is provided with a mating housing (not shown) for holding one or more male terminals (not shown). The mating housing particularly substantially is in the form of a tube open forward. The male terminals particularly are provided to substantially project forward from the back wall of the mating housing.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the connector10particularly is provided with a housing20including a lock arm30, a cover40, a detecting member50and/or a lever60.

Insulating resin materials can be cited as particular materials of the housing20, the cover40, the detecting member50and/or the lever60, wherein it is understood that different elements may be made by same, similar or different materials.

Configuration of Housing20

As shown inFIG.1, the housing20particularly includes a housing body portion21for at least partly accommodating and holding one or more terminal fittings such as female terminal(s) (not shown) to be connected to the respective mating terminal fitting(s) such as male terminal(s) inside and particularly a front holder22to be mounted on (particularly a front side of) the housing body portion21.

Specifically, the front holder22substantially is open rearward and/or externally fit to the housing body portion21e.g. from front. The front holder22particularly is formed with one or more, particularly a plurality of terminal insertion holes23, through which the mating terminal(s), particularly male terminal(s) at least partly are inserted or insertable.

One or more, particularly a pair of lock protection walls24specifically are formed on or near one or both side edges of (particularly an upper side of) the housing body portion21.

The lock arm30particularly is to be arranged adjacent to the lock protection wall(s)24. Specifically, the lock arm30at least partly is formed or arranged between the pair of lock protection walls24.

As shown inFIG.15, the lock arm30particularly includes a base end portion31connected to (particularly the upper surface of) the housing body portion21, an arm portion32substantially extending rearward from the base end portion31and one or more lock receiving portions33formed on (particularly a rear end part32A of) the arm portion32.

The arm portion32particularly is cantilevered or swingable substantially in the vertical direction with the base end portion31as a base end.

The one or more lock receiving portions33particularly are displaceable toward and away from the housing body portion21, e.g. substantially in the vertical direction, according to a cantilever or swinging movement of the arm portion32.

The one or more lock receiving portions33particularly are resiliently displaced toward the housing body portion21, e.g. substantially downward, by at least one lever lock portion63to be described later during the displacement (particularly rotation or pivotal movement) of the lever60and/or particularly are displaced away from the housing body portion21, e.g. substantially upward, to return and lockable to the lever lock portion63when the displacement (toward and away from the housing body portion21, e.g. substantially rotation or pivotal movement) of the lever60is completed.

As shown inFIG.1, the rear end part32A of the arm portion32particularly is formed to substantially project upward or outward.

One or more, particularly a pair of the lock receiving portions33are provided on the outer or upper surface of the rear end part32A of the arm portion32.

One or more mounting portions24A, adjacent to which the detecting member50particularly is mounted or mountable, are formed on or near the rear end part32A of the arm portion32. Specifically, a pair of mounting portions24A, at least partly inside which the detecting member50is mounted, are formed on both lateral (left and right) sides of the rear end part32A of the arm portion32.

The mounting portion24A particularly constitutes a part of the lock protection wall24and/or is formed on a rear end part of the lock protection wall24.

Movable Member such as Lever60

As shown inFIG.1, the lever60(as a particular movable member) particularly is substantially U-shaped as a whole.

Specifically, the lever60is provided with one or more, particularly a pair of (particularly substantially plate-like) portions61, an operating portion62connected to the portion(s)61, particularly coupling the pair of (substantially plate-like) portions61and/or the at least one lever lock portion63particularly projecting from the operating portion62.

The two plate-like portions61particularly are disposed to substantially face each other.

The plate-like portion61particularly is formed with a shaft hole61A recessed in or penetrating through the plate-like portion61and/or at least one cam groove61B recessed in a thickness direction (lateral direction) of the (substantially plate-like) portion61particularly from the outer surface of the plate-like portion61.

The cam groove61B particularly includes an entrance opening61B1located in an outer edge part of the (substantially plate-like) portion61, and extends in a substantially arcuate manner from the entrance opening61B1particularly to approach the shaft hole61A.

The entrance opening61B1serves as an opening for at least partly receiving a cam pin (not shown) of the mating connector into the cam groove61B.

One or more shaft portions21A are formed on one or more side surfaces of the housing body portion21. Specifically, one shaft portion21A is disposed on each of the both side surfaces of the housing body portion21.

By at least party accommodating the shaft portion(s)21A into the shaft hole(s)61A of the lever60, the lever60particularly is rotatably or pivotably supported on the housing20. It should be understood that the movable member may be displaced along a different path, such as a substantially linear path with respect to the housing20in order to display a cam action assisting the connection of the connector with the mating connector.

The lever60is displaceable (particularly rotatable or pivotable) between an initial position shown inFIG.2and a completion position shown inFIG.3.

As shown inFIGS.1and15, the at least one lever lock portion63particularly is formed to substantially project inward (particularly toward the shaft hole(s)61A) from the inner surface of the operating portion62.

By locking the lever lock portion(s)63to the lock receiving portion(s)33of the housing20, the lever60particularly is held or holdable at the completion position and/or the connector10and the mating connector particularly are held in a connection completed state.

As shown inFIG.12, the detecting member50particularly includes one or more detection arms51and an operating portion (such as a push-in portion)52coupled to the detection arm(s)51. Specifically, the detecting member50includes a pair of detection arms51and the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52couples to rear end parts of the pair of detection arms51.

The push-in portion52particularly has a push-in surface53. The push-in surface53specifically is formed on a surface substantially opposite to the detection arm(s)51, particularly to the pair of detection arms51, out of the outer surface of the push-in portion52.

At least one locking projection51A particularly is formed at a position near a front end part of the detection arm51. The locking projection51A particularly has a semi-locking shape (e.g. front and rear inclined surfaces are gently inclined when viewed from the direction Y), and/or substantially projects outward upward from the detection arm51.

Specifically, the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52substantially has a long shape in the lateral direction (Y direction), and one or more, particularly a pair of protruding portions54are formed to obliquely extend further rearward than the push-in surface53on (particularly one or both end parts in the lateral direction of) the operating portion (push-in portion)52.

An operating enlarged surface (e.g. a push-in enlarged surface)55substantially continuous with the push-in surface53particularly is formed on corner part(s) (particularly corner parts substantially facing a tapered portion43to be described later) located on (particularly rear parts of lower end sides of) the push-in portion52and/or the one or more, particularly the pair of protruding portions54.

As shown inFIG.1, the one or more detection arms51particularly at least partly are mounted in the one or more mounting portions24A of the housing20.

Specifically, the mounting portion24A includes a mounting hole or recess24B, into which the detection arm51at least partly is inserted or insertable.

By at least partly inserting the one or more (pair of) detection arms51into one or more (a pair of) the mounting holes24B particularly substantially from behind, the detecting member50particularly is movable substantially in the front-rear direction between a standby position shown inFIG.3and a detection position shown inFIG.4.

As shown inFIG.13, at least one temporary locking portion51B particularly is formed displaced from (e.g. behind) the locking projection51A on the detection arm51. The temporary locking portion51B particularly projects upward or outward from the detection arm51. A part of the detection arm51behind the temporary locking portion51B is formed with a recess or hole open downward to be thinned.

The temporary locking portion51B particularly is to be at least partly accommodated inside the mounting hole24B of the housing20.

At least one temporary locking projection24C particularly is formed on (particularly a rear end part of) the upper or outer surface of an inner wall constituting the mounting hole24B.

The temporary locking projection24C particularly substantially projects downward from the upper surface of the inner wall of the mounting hole24B.

By particularly locking the temporary locking portion(s)51B of the detecting member50to the temporary locking projection(s)24C of the housing20e.g. from front, the detecting member50is held or holdable at the standby position while being prevented from being displaced e.g. coming out rearward.

As shown inFIG.1, the detection arm51particularly is passed through the mounting hole24B of the mounting portion24A and/or at least partly accommodated into a mounting groove25formed between the lock arm30and the lock protection wall24.

The mounting groove25particularly is formed with at least one locking portion25A. The locking projection(s)51A of the detection arm51particularly is/are locked to the locking portion(s)25A from behind. In this way, the detecting member50particularly is held at the standby position and a movement thereof to the detection position is suppressed.

As shown inFIG.13, the front surface of the locking projection51A of the detection arm51particularly is tapered. Thus, if the detecting member50is displaced or pushed in forward, the detection arms51are resiliently deformed and the locking projection(s)51A is/are displaced downward.

If the detecting member50continues to be pushed or displaced in forward, the locking projection(s)51A particularly pass(es) over the locking portion(s)25A and/or the detection arm(s)51resiliently return(s), whereby the locking projection(s)51A are locked to the locking portion(s)25A (particularly from front) as shown inFIG.14. In this way, the detecting member50particularly is held at the detection position and/or a movement thereof to the standby position is suppressed.

As shown inFIG.15, a deflection space34, into which the detecting member50at least partly can enter from behind, particularly is formed below the lock arm30.

Since the detecting member50particularly is located behind the deflection space34when being at the standby position, the lock arm30can be deflected downward.

If the lock arm30is deflected downward, the locking of the lever lock portion(s)63and the lock receiving portion(s)33particularly is released, thereby allowing the displacement (particularly rotation or pivotal movement) of the lever60towards or to the initial position (i.e. the separation of the connector10and the mating connector).

As shown inFIG.16, since the detecting member50particularly at least partly is located in the deflection space34when being at the detection position, the lock arm30cannot be deflected downward. Thus, the locking of the lever lock portion(s)63and the lock receiving portion(s)33particularly cannot be released and/or the lever60particularly is held at the completion position.

The cover40is mounted or mountable on the housing20. Specifically, the cover40guides one or more wires pulled out (e.g. rearward) from the housing20in a predetermined direction and/or protects the wire(s).

Specifically, the cover40of this embodiment substantially has a tubular shape as a whole and/or is open rearward and laterally.

As shown inFIG.8, the cover40includes one or more, particularly a pair of (e.g. upper and lower) cover lock portions41, a vertical portion42provided on (particularly the rear end of) the (e.g. upper) cover lock portion41and/or the tapered portion43particularly substantially continuous from the vertical portion42.

As shown inFIG.7, the cover lock portion41particularly substantially has a long or elongated shape in the lateral direction.

As shown inFIG.9, one or more, particularly a pair of holding projections41A particularly are formed on (particularly one or both end parts of) the cover lock portion41.

On the other hand, the housing20particularly is formed with one or more entrance spaces26, into which the one or more cover lock portions41at least partly laterally enter.

An inner wall constituting the entrance space26particularly is formed with at least one hold receiving portion26A to be locked to the holding projection41A. By locking the holding projection(s)41A to the hold receiving portion(s)26A, the cover40particularly is held or positioned on the rear end part of the housing20.

As shown inFIG.8, the upper cover lock portion41particularly substantially projects forward from (particularly the upper end of) the vertical portion42.

The tapered portion43particularly is formed to be tapered downward toward (particularly a rear side from the lower end of) the vertical portion42.

As shown inFIG.3, the rear end of the vertical portion42particularly is substantially at the same position as the rear end(s) of the mounting portion(s)24A, into which the detecting member50at least partly is mounted or mountable, in the front-rear direction.

The operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52of the detection arm50particularly projects further downward than the detection arm(s)51. The lower end of the operating portion (push-in portion)52particularly substantially is located at the same height as or somewhat below a center of the vertical portion42in the vertical direction. That is, the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52particularly is located behind the vertical portion42.

Further, the lower end of the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52particularly is disposed at a position along the tapered portion43.

The push-in enlarged surface55of the push-in portion52particularly is formed on the corner part facing the tapered portion43, out of the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52.

Operation Method of Detecting Member50

First, how to particularly mount the detecting member50into the housing20is described.

As shown inFIG.9, the one or more, particularly the pair of detection arms51at least partly are inserted into the one or more, particularly the pair of mounting holes24B of the housing20e.g. substantially from behind.

As shown inFIG.13, when the detecting member50reaches the standby position, the one or more temporary locking projections24C particularly are locked to the respective one or more temporary locking portions51B from front, whereby a rearward movement of the detecting member50is suppressed.

Further, the one or more locking projections51A particularly are locked to the one or more locking portions25A from behind, whereby a forward movement of the detecting member50is suppressed.

After the detecting member50is mounted at the standby position in the housing20, the movable member such as the lever60particularly is assembled with the housing20. Specifically, the movable member such as the lever60is assembled with the housing20from the side e.g. above (particularly while the pair of plate-like portions61are deformed away from each other).

After the movable member such as the lever40particularly is held at the completion position and the cover40is mounted on the housing20, the movable member (lever)60is set at the initial position.

If the connector10and the mating connector are lightly connected, the one or more cam pins of the mating connector at least partly enter the one or more cam grooves61B of the movable member (e.g. lever)60. If the movable member is displaced, e.g. the lever60is rotated or pivoted, from the initial position to the completion position, the cam pin(s) move along the cam groove(s)61B, whereby the connection of the connector10and the mating connector proceeds by a cam action. If the movable member (e.g. lever)60reaches the completion position, the connection of the connector10and the mating connector is completed and the one or more terminals respectively of the both are conductively connected.

Subsequently, the detecting member50serving as a particular connection assurance member particularly is moved from the standby position to the detection position.

An operation of moving the detecting member50is possibly performed in an environment where the detecting member50cannot be directly seen by the eyes of an operator, e.g. in a state where the connector10is hidden behind another member and e.g. only the hand is inserted to the back side of the other member. In such a case, it is thought to be extremely difficult to bring a finger into contact with the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52of the detecting member50.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the finger particularly is placed or placeable on the tapered portion43and moved or movable along the tapered portion43as shown inFIG.5, whereby the finger can be reliably brought into contact with the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52of the detecting member50. Particularly, in this embodiment, a ball part of the finger contacts the push-in enlarged surface55of the push-in portion52. In this way, the finger is very easily brought into contact with the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52of the detecting member50.

Subsequently, (e.g. the ball part of) the finger is or can be moved to the vicinity of a center of the push-in surface53by sliding the finger e.g. somewhat upward. At this time, since (e.g. the ball part of) the finger particularly can be hooked on the protruding portion54as shown inFIG.11, the finger can be firmly brought into contact with the push-in surface53.

Then, as shown inFIG.6, the detecting member50particularly is moved towards or to the detection position e.g. by pushing the finger forward.

As described above, the connection completion of the connector10and the mating connector can be detected by a movement of the detecting member50to the detection position.

Further, in moving the detecting member50from the detection position to the standby position, fingers particularly can be hooked on the protruding portions54as shown inFIG.10, more particularly the pair of protruding portions54can be pinched with an index finger and a thumb. Thus, an operation of pulling out the detecting member50is facilitated.

Functions and Effects of Embodiment

(1) The connector10of the present disclosure particularly is provided with the housing20, the detecting member50including the push-in portion52and/or movable from the standby position to the detection position with respect to the housing20by the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52being displaced (e.g. pushed in) substantially forward, and the cover40mounted on (particularly the rear end part) of the housing20, wherein the cover40particularly includes the one or more cover lock portions41. Specifically, the vertical portion42is provided on (particularly the rear end of) the cover lock portion41and the tapered portion43is continuous from the vertical portion42. the rear end of the detecting member50at the standby position particularly is disposed at the position behind the vertical portion42and/or along the tapered portion43.

In pushing the detecting member50from the standby position to the detection position, a finger particularly can be brought into contact with (e.g. the rear end of) the detecting member50particularly by placing the finger on the tapered portion43of the cover40and moving the finger along the tapered portion43.

Once the finger particularly contacts the rear end of the detecting member50, the finger can be moved to the push-in portion by sliding the finger from there. By doing so, the position of the detecting member50can be correctly grasped and the push-in portion52can be displaced (e.g. pushed in) substantially forward, for example, in an environment where the connector10cannot be directly seen by the eyes.

Thus, the operability of the detecting member50and overall of the connector can be improved.

(2) Particularly, the detecting member50includes the one or more detection arms51and/or the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52particularly connected thereto (e.g. coupled to the rear end parts of the detection arms51) and having the push-in surface53. Specifically, the push-in enlarged surface55substantially continuous with the push-in surface53is formed on the corner part facing the tapered portion43, out of the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52.

Since the finger particularly contacts the push-in enlarged surface55if being moved along the tapered portion43, the finger easily contacts the detecting member50.

Thereafter, the detecting member50can be displaced (e.g. pushed in) forward by moving the finger from the push-in enlarged surface55to the push-in surface53.

(3) Further particularly, the operating portion (e.g. the push-in portion)52has a long or oblong shape in a width direction, and the one or more, particularly pair of protruding portions54are formed to obliquely extend further rearward than the push-in surface53on or near one or both end parts in the width direction of the operating portion (push-in portion)52.

Since fingers can be hooked on the protruding portion(s)54in displacing (e.g. pulling out) the detecting member50from the detection position to the standby position, the operation of pulling out the detecting member50can be easily performed.

Accordingly, to improve the operability of a detecting member, a connector10is provided with a housing20, a detecting member50displaceable or pushable forward from a standby position to a detection position, and a cover40mounted on a rear end part of the housing20. The cover40includes at least one cover lock portion41, a vertical portion42provided on a rear end of the cover lock portion41and a tapered portion43continuous from the vertical portion42. A rear end of the detecting member50at the standby position particularly is disposed at a position behind the vertical portion42and along the tapered portion43.

Other Embodiments

The above embodiment can be modified and carried out as follows. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be carried out in combination without technically contradicting each other.Although the push-in enlarged surface55particularly is formed on both the push-in portion52and the protruding portions54in the above embodiment, a push-in enlarged surface may be formed only on the push-in portion52.Although the pair of protruding portions54particularly are formed on the both end parts in the lateral direction of the push-in portion52in the above embodiment, a protruding portion may be formed only on either one of the end parts.Although the connector10particularly provided with the lever60is illustrated in the above embodiment, a connector may not be provided with the lever60.