CONNECTOR APPARATUS

A lock arm has a first abutting surface at a position contactable with a lock portion in a fitting process of a first connector and a second connector. The first abutting surface includes a sliding section that extends rearward from a contact start position at which the first abutting surface starts to come into contact with the lock portion, which then slides on the sliding section. The sliding section is inclined relative to a front-rear direction. When the lock portion comes into contact with the first abutting surface at the contact start position in a fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, a first terminal and a second terminal are disposed in a non-contact state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-134410, filed on Aug. 22, 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 apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A connector disclosed in JP H06-050268 U has a configuration in which, as a result of a protrusion of a flexible arm of a female connector riding over a latch portion of a male connector, the male connector and the female connector are completely fitted to each other. Similarly, a connector disclosed in JP 2006-147291 A has a configuration in which, as a result of a latch portion of a lock arm of a female connector being deflected and riding over a latched portion of a male connector, the male connector and the female connector are completely fitted to each other.

SUMMARY

Regarding the connector in JP H06-050268 U, in a semi-fitted state in which the latch portion of the male connector and the protrusion of the flexible arm of the female connector start to come into contact with each other, a male terminal and a female terminal can be brought into contact with each other. For this reason, there is a concern that, when an electrical connection between the male terminal and the female terminal is checked even in the semi-fitted state, it may be determined that this connector is in a fitted state due to the male terminal being in electrical conduction with the female terminal. Regarding the connector in JP 2006-147291 A, a portion between a front end and the latch portion of the lock arm is a flat surface extending along the front-rear direction, and there is a concern that a fitting force when the latched portion of the male connector rides over the latch portion of the lock arm will increase.

The present disclosure provides a connector apparatus that can prevent connectors from being left in a semi-fitted state.

A connector apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a first connector and a second connector that are fittable to each other, the first connector includes a first terminal, a first housing that accommodates the first terminal, and an elastically deformable lock arm formed on the first housing, the second connector includes a second terminal, a second housing that accommodates the second terminal, and a lock portion that is formed on the second housing and to which the lock arm is latched, the lock arm extends in a front-rear direction that is a fitting direction of the first connector and the second connector, and has, at a front end portion of the lock arm, a flexure support portion that is coupled to the first housing, the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed in a contact state and the first connector and the second connector are held in a fitted state when the lock arm is latched to the lock portion, the lock arm has a first abutting surface at a position contactable with the lock portion in a fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the first abutting surface includes a sliding section that extends rearward from a contact start position at which the first abutting surface starts to come into contact with the lock portion, and on which the lock portion abuts and slides, the sliding section is inclined relative to the front-rear direction, the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed in a non-contact state when the lock portion comes into contact with the first abutting surface at the contact start position in a fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the lock arm has a second abutting surface contactable with the lock portion, and the second abutting surface is formed rearward of the first abutting surface, and an angle of inclination of the second abutting surface relative to the front-rear direction is larger than that of the first abutting surface.

The present disclosure can provide a connector apparatus that can prevent connectors from being left in a semi-fitted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described below.

(1) A connector apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a first connector and a second connector that are fittable to each other, the first connector includes a first terminal, a first housing that accommodates the first terminal, and an elastically deformable lock arm formed on the first housing, the second connector includes a second terminal, a second housing that accommodates the second terminal, and a lock portion that is formed on the second housing and to which the lock arm is latched, the lock arm extends in a front-rear direction that is a fitting direction of the first connector and the second connector, and has, at a front end portion of the lock arm, a flexure support portion that is coupled to the first housing, the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed in a contact state and the first connector and the second connector are held in a fitted state when the lock arm is latched to the lock portion, the lock arm has a first abutting surface at a position contactable with the lock portion in a fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the first abutting surface includes a sliding section that extends rearward from a contact start position at which the first abutting surface starts to come into contact with the lock portion, and on which the lock portion abuts and slides, the sliding section is inclined relative to the front-rear direction, the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed in a non-contact state when the lock portion comes into contact with the first abutting surface at the contact start position in a fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the lock arm has a second abutting surface contactable with the lock portion, and the second abutting surface is formed rearward of the first abutting surface, and an angle of inclination of the second abutting surface relative to the front-rear direction is larger than that of the first abutting surface.

With the configuration in the above (1), when the lock portion comes into contact with the first abutting surface at the contact start position in the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed in a non-contact state. For this reason, when the lock portion is in contact with the first abutting surface at the contact start position, the first terminal and second terminal are not electrically connected to each other, and it is possible to ascertain a semi-fitted state of the first connector and the second connector by conducting an electrical connection check. In this state, the sliding section of the first abutting surface is inclined relative to the front-rear direction, and thus it is possible to reduce a force required for a fitting operation by bending the lock arm at a relatively early stage in the fitting process. In addition, the lock arm has the second abutting surface that is inclined relative to the front-rear direction at a larger angle than the first abutting surface. For this reason, when the lock portion moves past the second abutting surface, the first connecter and the second connector are likely to be fitted to each other instantly without stopping halfway, and to be completely fitted to each other. Particularly, the second abutting surface is at a position that is more distant from the flexure support portion than the first abutting surface, which makes it easy to reduce an insertion force when the lock portion moves past the second abutting surface. Therefore, the connector apparatus can prevent the first connector and the second connector from being left in the semi-fitted state.

(2) In the connector apparatus according to the above (1), preferably, the lock arm has a straight surface that extends along the front-rear direction, between the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface.

With the configuration in the above (2), it is possible to reduce the degree of elastic deformation of the lock arm when the lock portion comes into contact with the straight surface relative to an inclined surface. For this reason, the lock portion easily opposes the second abutting surface that is rearward of the straight surface, and when fitting of the connectors progresses, the lock portion easily abuts on the second abutting surface and presses the second abutting surface in.

(3) In the connector apparatus according to the above (1) or (2), preferably, the first terminal is a female terminal, the second terminal is a male terminal, the first housing has a front wall capable of abutting on and stopping the first terminal, a through hole into which the second terminal is to be inserted is provided in the front wall, and when the lock portion comes into contact with the first abutting surface at the contact start position, the first terminal and the second terminal are spaced apart from each other by the through hole of the front wall.

With the configuration in the above (3), the first terminal and the second terminal are spaced apart from each other by the front wall, and thus the first terminal and the second terminal can be reliably separated from each other.

(4) In the connector apparatus according to any one of the above (1) to (3), preferably, while the lock portion is sliding on the sliding section, the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed in a non-contact state.

With the configuration in the above (4), in the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the first terminal and the second terminal can be brought into contact with each other in a state that is closer to a fitting-completed state.

Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but rather is indicated by the claims, and includes all modifications that are within the meanings and the scope that are equivalent to those of the claims.

First Embodiment

A connector apparatus10according to a first embodiment includes a first connector20and a second connector30that are fittable to each other. The fitting direction of the connectors20and30is a front-rear direction. In the first embodiment, regarding the front-rear direction, the positive direction side of the X axis inFIGS.1and5is defined as a front side. Regarding the up-down direction, the positive direction side of the Z axis inFIGS.1and5is defined as an upward side. Regarding the left-right direction, the positive direction side of the Y axis inFIG.1is defined as a right side.

The first connector20is a female connector as shown inFIG.2. The first connector20includes a first terminal21and the first housing22. The first housing22is a female housing. The first housing22is made of a synthetic resin. The first housing22accommodates the first terminal21. The first housing22is a single component having a flattened shape. The first housing22includes a housing main body portion23and a lock arm24as shown inFIG.3.

The housing main body portion23has an overall flattened rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown inFIG.5, a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers25that pass through the housing main body portion23in the front-rear direction are formed in the housing main body portion23. The terminal accommodation chambers25are arranged at a fixed pitch in the left-right direction in two levels, namely upper and lower levels. The first terminal21firmly fixed to a front end portion of an electric wire26is inserted into one of the terminal accommodation chambers25.

As shown inFIG.5, a front wall27is provided on the housing main body portion23. The front wall27forms a wall on the front side of the plurality of terminal accommodation chambers25. The first terminal21can abut on the front wall27and is stopped. Through holes28corresponding to the terminal accommodation chambers25are formed in the front wall27. A second terminal71is inserted into a terminal accommodation chamber25through the through hole28.

As shown inFIG.3, the lock arm24is disposed at a central portion in the left-right direction of the first housing22. The lock arm24extends in the front-rear direction. The lock arm24is elastically deformable in the up-down direction. The lock arm24includes a flexure support portion41, an arm main body portion42, and an operating portion43.

As shown inFIG.5, the flexure support portion41forms a front end portion of the lock arm24, and is coupled to a front end portion of an outer wall surface (upper surface)29of the housing main body portion23. The arm main body portion42has a flat plate-like shape elongated in the front-rear direction. The arm main body portion42extends rearward in a cantilever fashion from the flexure support portion41along the outer wall surface29of the housing main body portion23. The operating portion43protrudes rearward and upward from a rear end of the arm main body portion42. The operating portion43is a portion for performing a pressing operation on the lock arm24to unlock the lock arm24.

As shown inFIG.5, a front-side upper surface51, a first abutting surface52, and a straight surface53are provided on the upper surface of the arm main body portion42. The front-side upper surface51forms a front-end-side portion of the upper surface of the arm main body portion42. The front-side upper surface51is a flat surface extending along the front-rear direction in a state where the lock arm24does not elastically deform.

The first abutting surface52is continuous to the rearside of the front-side upper surface51. The first abutting surface52is provided at a position contactable with a lock portion76of a second housing72to be described later, in a fitting process of the first connector20and the second connector30. The first abutting surface52is inclined upward relative to the front-rear direction toward the rear.

The first abutting surface52includes a sliding section54that extends rearward from a contact start position at which the first abutting surface52starts to come into contact with the lock portion76of the second housing72to be described later, and on which the lock portion76slides. The sliding section54forms a rear-end-side portion of the first abutting surface52. The sliding section54is inclined upward relative to the front-rear direction toward the rear.

The straight surface53is continuous to the rearside of the first abutting surface52. The straight surface53is provided between the first abutting surface52and a second abutting surface57to be described later. The straight surface53is a flat surface extending along the front-rear direction in a state where the lock arm24does not elastically deform.

As shown inFIG.5, a protrusion portion55and a rear-side upper surface56are provided on the upper surface of the arm main body portion42. The protrusion portion55protrudes upward from a position rearward of the straight surface53. The protrusion portion55has a rectangular shape in planar view. The second abutting surface57is provided in front of the protrusion portion55.

The second abutting surface57is formed rearward of the first abutting surface52. The second abutting surface57is continuous to the rearside of the straight surface53. The second abutting surface57is inclined upward toward the rear. The angle of inclination of the second abutting surface57relative to the front-rear direction is larger than the angle of inclination of the first abutting surface52relative to the front-rear direction. The angle of inclination of the second abutting surface57relative to the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) is an angle close to the right angle. Here, the angle of inclination of the second abutting surface57relative to the front-rear direction is an angle formed by a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction and the second abutting surface57and is the minor angle. Similarly, the angle of inclination of the first abutting surface52relative to the front-rear direction is also an angle formed by a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction and the second abutting surface57and is the minor angle.

The rear-side upper surface56is continuous to the rearside of the protrusion portion55. The rear-side upper surface56is a flat surface extending along the front-rear direction in a state where the lock arm24does not elastically deform.

The first terminal21is a female terminal as shown inFIG.2. The first terminal21is integrally formed by punching an electrically conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape, and performing a bending process and the like. As shown inFIG.5, the first terminal21includes a main body portion61, an elastic contact portion62, and a crimping portion63. The main body portion61has a square tubular shape. A second terminal71is inserted into the main body portion61. The elastic contact portion62is disposed in the main body portion61. The elastic contact portion62extends rearward from the front end of the main body portion61. The crimping portion63is firmly fixed to the front end portion of the electric wire26.

As shown inFIG.2, the second connector30is a male connector. The second connector30functions as a substrate connector that is mounted on a circuit substrate31(seeFIG.5). The second connector30includes the second terminal71and the second housing72.

The second housing72is a male housing. The second housing72is made of a synthetic resin. The second housing72holds the second terminal71. As shown inFIG.4, the second housing72is a single component having a flattened shape. The second housing72includes a terminal holding portion73and a hood portion74. The terminal holding portion73has a wall-like shape. As shown inFIG.5, the terminal holding portion73holds a plurality of second terminals71. The hood portion74protrudes rearward (to the first connector20side) from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal holding portion73and has a flattened square tubular shape.

As shown inFIG.4, the lock portion76is provided on the inner surface (lower surface) of an upper wall portion75that forms the hood portion74. The lock arm24of the first housing22is latched to the lock portion76. The lock portion76protrudes downward from the inner surface of the upper wall portion75. The lock portion76has a rectangular shape as viewed from below.

As shown inFIG.6, a lower surface77of the lock portion76is a flat surface extending along the front-rear direction. A rear surface78of the lock portion76is inclined upward relative to the front-rear direction toward the rear.

Each second terminal71is formed by punching a plate material into a bar and bending the bar. The second terminal71includes a terminal connection portion81and a substrate connection portion82. The terminal connection portion81extends in the front-rear direction. As shown inFIG.5, the terminal connection portion81is press-fit into the terminal holding portion73. A tab of a leading end portion of the terminal connection portion81is disposed in the hood portion74. The substrate connection portion82is bent in an L-shape. The substrate connection portion82extends downward from a base end of the terminal connection portion81, outside of the second housing72(the hood portion74). The substrate connection portion82is connected to the circuit substrate31.

When the first connector20and the second connector30are fitted to each other, the first housing22is brought into the hood portion74of the second housing72. In the fitting process of the first connector20and the second connector30, as shown inFIG.5, the lock portion76comes into contact with the first abutting surface52at the contact start position. When the lock portion76is at the contact start position, the first terminal21and the second terminal71are disposed in a non-contact state. Specifically, the first terminal21and the second terminal71are disposed spaced apart from each other without entering the through hole28of the front wall27.

Furthermore, as fitting of the first connector20and the second connector30progresses, the lock portion76slides on the sliding section54of the first abutting surface52. The sliding section54is inclined upward toward the rear, and thus, as fitting of the first connector20and the second connector30progresses, the lock arm24elastically deforms so as to approach the outer wall surface29of the first housing22. Also while the lower surface of the lock portion76is sliding on the sliding section54, the first terminal21and the second terminal71are in a non-contact state.

When fitting of the first connector20and the second connector30further progresses, the lock portion76comes into contact with the straight surface53. When fitting of the first connector20and the second connector30further progresses, the lock portion76comes into contact with the second abutting surface57as shown inFIG.6. When the lock portion76moves past the protrusion portion55of the lock arm24, the first connector20and the second connector30enter a proper fitted state (seeFIG.7) instantly due to elasticity. The inclination angle of the second abutting surface57is larger than the inclination angle of the first abutting surface52, and when the lock portion76moves past the second abutting surface57, the first connector20and the second connector30are likely to enter the proper fitted state (seeFIG.7) instantly without stopping fitting.

As shown inFIG.7, in a state where the protrusion portion55of the lock arm24is latched to the lock portion76, the first connector20and the second connector30are held in a fitted state, and enter the proper fitted state.

Effects of Connector Apparatus10According to First Embodiment

In the connector apparatus10according to the first embodiment, when the lock portion76comes into contact with the first abutting surface52at the contact start position in a fitting process of the first connector20and the second connector30, the first terminal21and the second terminal71are disposed in the non-contact state. For this reason, when the lock portion76is in contact with the first abutting surface52at the contact start position, the first terminal21and the second terminal71are not electrically connected, and it is possible to ascertain a semi-fitted state of the first connector20and the second connector30by conducting an electrical connection check. In this state, since the sliding section54of the first abutting surface52is inclined relative to the front-rear direction, and thus it is possible to bend the lock arm24and reduce a force required for a fitting operation at a relatively early stage in the fitting process. In addition, the lock arm24has the second abutting surface57that is inclined relative to the front-rear direction at a larger angle than the first abutting surface52. For this reason, when the lock portion76moves past the second abutting surface57, the first connector20and the second connector30are easily fitted to each other instantly without stopping halfway, and the fitting therebetween can be easily completed. Particularly, the second abutting surface57is at a position more distant from the flexure support portion41than the first abutting surface52, and the lock portion76is likely to be displaced when moving past the second abutting surface57, thus making it easy to reduce an insertion force. Therefore, the connector apparatus10can prevent the first connector20and the second connector30from being left in the semi-fitted state.

In the connector apparatus10according to the first embodiment, the lock arm24has the straight surface53extending along the front-rear direction between the first abutting surface52and the second abutting surface57. With such a configuration, when the lock portion76comes into contact with the straight surface53, it is possible to reduce the degree of elastic deformation of the lock arm24. For this reason, the lock portion76easily opposes the second abutting surface57rearward of the straight surface53, and the lock portion76easily abuts on the second abutting surface57and presses the second abutting surface57in when fitting of the connectors20and30progresses.

In the connector apparatus10according to the first embodiment, the first housing22has the front wall27capable of abutting on and stopping the first terminal21. When the lock portion76comes into contact with the first abutting surface52at the contact start position, the first terminal21and the second terminal71are disposed spaced apart from each other by the through hole28of the front wall27. With such a configuration, when the lock portion76comes into contact with the first abutting surface52at the contact start position, the first terminal21and the second terminal71can be reliably spaced apart from each other.

In the connector apparatus10according to the first embodiment, while the lock portion76is sliding on the sliding section54, the first terminal21and the second terminal71are disposed in the non-contact state. With such a configuration, in the fitting process of the first connector20and the second connector30, the first terminal21and the second terminal71can be brought into contact with each other in a state that is closer to a fitting-completed state. For this reason, it is easy to prevent the connector apparatus10in the semi-fitted state from being determined as being in the proper fitted state based on an electric connection check on the first terminal21and the second terminal71.

Other Embodiment

The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described in the description above and the drawings, and is defined by the scope of the claims. All changes that fall within the same essential spirit as the scope of the claims are included in the present invention, and the following embodiments are also intended to be included therein.

In the first embodiment above, the angle of inclination of the second abutting surface57relative to the front-rear direction is an angle close to the right angle, but may be the right angle.

In the first embodiment above, in the first housing22, the terminal accommodation chambers25are arranged in two levels, namely an upper level and a lower level, but may be arranged in a single level or three or more vertical levels.

In the first embodiment above, the first connector20is configured as a female connector and the second connector30is configured as a male connector, but a configuration may also be adopted in which the first connector20is configured as a male connector and the second connector30is configured as a female connector.