Electrical connector with a movable detector

A connector has a detector (11) is provided in a housing (10) for movement in a front-rear direction, and can move from a standby position to a detection position when the housing (10) is connected properly to a mating housing (90). The detector (11) includes two side walls (53) arranged to face each other in a width direction with a lock arm (15) provided on the housing (10) therebetween. A detecting body (42) is assembled with the lock arm (15) between the side walls (53) and can tilt together with the lock arm (15). Couplings (59) have tilting fulcrums (66) configured to resiliently deform when the detecting body (42) is tilted. The couplings (59) extend in oblique directions intersecting the width direction from the side walls (53) to corresponding side surfaces of the detecting body (42).

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a connector.

Related Art

Japanese Patent No. 4977404 discloses a connector that includes a connector housing and a tubular detector is mounted in the connector housing for movement between a restricting position and an allowing position.

An opening is formed in an upper wall of the detector, and an interference arm extends in a front-rear direction in the opening. Couplings connect rear parts of both sides of the interference arm to opposed edges of the opening. A front of the interference arm has an interference projection that is locked to a lock arm of the connector housing.

The interference projection and the lock arm ride on a lock projection of the mating connector as the connector housing and a mating connector are being connected, and the interference arm tilts with the couplings as supports. The detector moves from the allowing position to the restricting position when the connector housing is connected properly to the mating connector. Thus, the interference projection slides on the upper surface of a front part of the lock arm and the interference arm is kept tilted. When the detector is at the restricting position, the interference projection resiliently returns to be arranged in front of the lock arm.

The couplings of the detector twist and deform resiliently when the interference arm is tilted, but extend only short distances in a width direction from the sides of the interference arm to the edges of the opening of the peripheral wall. Thus, the couplings have poor resilience and high rigidity. As a result, the interference arm is difficult to deflect, and a large resistance may be generated to interfere with an operation of connecting the housings.

The invention was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to facilitate connection of a connector to a mating housing without any problem.

SUMMARY

The invention is directed to a connector with a housing including a deflectable lock arm. The housing is held connected to a mating housing by the lock arm locking a lock of the mating housing. A detector is movable in a front-rear direction on the housing. The detector can move from a standby position to a detection position when the housing is connected properly to the mating housing. The detector has two side walls arranged to face each other in a width direction with the lock arm therebetween. A detecting body is between the side walls and can tilt together with the lock arm. Couplings connect opposite sides of the detecting body to the opposed side walls of the detector. The couplings extend in oblique directions intersecting the width direction and have tilting fulcrums configured to deform resiliently when the detecting body is tilted.

The obliquely aligned couplings are sufficiently long to deform resiliently with ease so that the detecting body can tilt easily. As a result, connection resistance between the housings is low and the housings can be connected without any problem.

The tilting fulcrums of the couplings may be arranged at positions overlapping a tilting fulcrum of the lock arm in the front-rear direction. According to this configuration, tilting displacements of the detecting body and the lock arm can be synchronized smoothly.

The detector may include a fitting, and the housing may be fit into the fitting. The side walls may be configured on both side parts of the fitting. This configuration improves the strength of the side walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 17. A connector of this embodiment includes a housing10, a detector11and terminal fittings12. The housing10is connectable to a mating housing90. Note that, in the following description, surfaces of the housing10and the mating housing90facing each other at the start of connection are referred to as front ends, and a vertical direction is based onFIGS. 3 to 5, 9 to 12, 14 and 15.

The mating housing90is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, a tubular receptacle91directly connected to an unillustrated device and projecting forward. Tab-like mating terminal fittings92project into the receptacle91. The receptacle91includes a claw-like projecting lock93on the upper surface of an upper wall.

The housing10is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown inFIGS. 14 to 16, a housing body13, a fitting tube14and a lock arm15.

As shown inFIG. 6, cavities16penetrate the housing body13in the front-rear direction, and a deflectable locking lance17projects forward at the lower surface of each cavity16. The cavities16are paired in a width direction in the housing body13and the terminal fittings12are inserted therein from behind.

Each terminal fitting12is formed integrally such as by bending a conductive metal plate, and is connected electrically and mechanically to an end part of a wire18. As shown inFIG. 5, the terminal fitting12includes a tubular connecting portion19into which the mating terminal fitting92is inserted for connection. The locking lance17engages the connecting portion19to retain terminal fitting12in the cavity16.

An unillustrated front retainer is mounted in a front part of the housing body13. The front retainer is mounted in the front part of the housing13to restrict deflection of the locking lances17for secondarily retaining the terminal fittings12in the cavities16.

As shown inFIGS. 14 to 16, a rear part of the housing body13includes tubular portions21in the form of two connected cylinders defining the respective cavities16. The wire18connected to each terminal fitting12is pulled to outside from the rear end of each tubular portion21. An unillustrated rubber plug is fit on the wire18and inserted in each tubular portion21in a liquid-tight manner.

As shown inFIG. 15, each tubular portion21includes a retaining protrusion22projecting down from a widthwise central part of a lower end. As shown inFIG. 3, each retaining protrusion22is lockable to a later-described locking claw23of the detector11.

As shown inFIG. 15, the housing body13includes two side surfaces24on widthwise sides of the respective tubular portions21, and facing walls25rise vertically from upper parts of the side surfaces24. As shown inFIG. 14, each facing wall25is formed over substantially the entire length of the housing10in the front-rear direction.

As shown inFIG. 15, each side surface24includes a rectangular recess26between upper and lower parts, and a claw-like protrusion27is on the back surface of the recess26. The protrusion27has such a projecting dimension to be confined within a depth of the recess26. A projecting end part of the rear surface of the protrusion27is tapered and inclined rearward and the front surface of the protrusion27is arranged along the width direction.

Housing ribs28are formed on upper and lower parts of each side surface24and extend parallel to one another in the front-rear direction. Two housing ribs28are on the upper part and one housing rib28is on the lower part, and these housing ribs28. The housing rib28on the lower part of each side surface24has a larger vertical thickness than the housing ribs28on the upper part and extends over the entire height of the lower part. Each housing rib28has a stepped shape such that a lateral projecting amount is reduced gradually toward the rear.

The fitting tube portion14has a tubular shape surrounding the outer periphery of a front part of the housing body13and the receptacle91of the mating housing90is fittable between the fitting tube portion14and the front part of the housing body13. When the both housings10,90are properly connected, an unillustrated seal ring to be externally fit on the housing body13is interposed in a liquid-tight manner between the receptacle91and the housing body13.

The fitting tube14surrounds the outer periphery of a front part of the housing body13and the receptacle91of the mating housing90is fittable between the fitting tube14and the front part of the housing body13. An unillustrated seal ring is fit externally on the housing body13and is interposed in a liquid-tight manner between the receptacle91and the housing body13when the housings10,90are connected properly.

As shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, the fitting tube14includes two side wall lower portions29covering both sides of the front part of the housing body13. There is a step31between each side wall lower portion29and each side surface portion24, and the front end of each housing rib28is integrally connected to an end surface constituting the step31.

The lock arm15includes legs35arranged between the facing walls25. The legs35are paired in the width direction and rise from the upper surface of the housing body13, as shown inFIG. 15. An arm body36extends forward and rearward from upper ends of the legs35and is exposed to the open spaces34, as shown inFIG. 3. The arm body36can be tilted and displaced resiliently in a seesaw manner in the vertical direction with the legs35as supports or fulcrums.

The arm body36includes a rearwardly open assembly space37extending in the front-rear direction, as shown inFIG. 3. A housing lock38closes a front end of the assembly space37, two rails39close both widthwise sides of the assembly space37, as shown inFIG. 16, and a plate41closes a rear-upper side of the assembly space37.

As shown inFIG. 3, a detecting body42of the detector11is inserted into the assembly space37of the arm body36. The detecting body42has a detector locking portion43, and the housing lock38is locked to a rear surface of the detector locking portion43facing the assembly space37, as shown inFIG. 3, before the housings10,90are connected properly. Additionally, the lock93of the mating housing90is locked to the rear surface of housing lock38, as shown inFIG. 5when the housings10,90are connected properly. Laterally protruding parts of the respective rails39are inserted into rail grooves44of the detecting body42to guide the assembling of the detector11.

Housing side locking projections40project on both widthwise sides of the arm body36. Each housing side locking projection40is claw-like and coupled to the lower surface of the laterally protruding part of the corresponding rail39, as shown inFIG. 15. Each housing side locking projection40is lockable to a detector side locking projection68of the detector11.

As shown inFIGS. 10 to 13, the detector11includes a fitting45and the detecting body42. The fitting45includes an insertion space46inside. The detector11is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the housing10to a standby position where the housing body13is inserted shallowly in the insertion space46, as shown inFIG. 3, and to a detection position where the housing body13is inserted deeply in the insertion space46as shown inFIG. 5.

As shown inFIG. 11, the fitting45includes a back wall47for closing a rear side of the insertion space46. A central part of the back wall47includes a wide through hole49that makes interfering portions48and the locking claw23visually confirmable. At the detection position, the respective tubular portions21of the housing body13are fit in the through hole49of the back wall47and the back wall47surrounds the entire peripheries of the tubular portions21.

As shown inFIG. 12, the fitting45has a lower wall51for closing a lower side of the insertion space46, and a deflectable retaining arm52projects forward in a widthwise center of a rear part of the lower wall51. As shown inFIG. 3, a locking claw23projects up on a front part of the retaining arm52. The locking claw23is locked to the retaining protrusion22of the housing10after the retaining arm52is deflected.

As shown inFIG. 12, side walls53are on both widthwise ends of the fitting45for closing both widthwise sides of the insertion space46on. As shown inFIG. 10, each side wall53includes upper and lower slits54extending long in the front-rear direction and a strip-like resilient piece55between the upper and lower slits54. Each resilient piece55is in the form of a beam supported on both ends and is deflectable with parts coupled to front and rear end parts of the corresponding side wall53as supports. As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, each resilient piece55includes the claw-like interfering portion48projecting on a rear part of an inner surface. A projecting part of the rear surface of the interfering portion48is tapered and inclined forward and the front surface of the interfering portion48is arranged along the width direction. The interfering portion48can interfere with the protrusion27of the housing10and has larger thickness in the front-rear direction and projecting dimension than the protrusion27.

As shown inFIG. 10, a rear part of each side wall53has a recessed surface56recessed inwardly from front, upper and lower parts (peripheral area). A rear part of each resilient piece55is provided in each recessed surface56. The recessed surfaces56have stepped shapes so that a width interval (widths of the respective side walls53) becomes gradually smaller from front ends toward rear ends. Specifically, as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, each recessed surface56is constituted by alternately disposing rearward facing surfaces57extending short in the width direction and arranged to face rearward and laterally facing surfaces58extending along the front-rear direction and arranged to face laterally in the front-rear direction. The rearward facing surfaces57and the laterally facing surfaces58are arranged continuously over the entire height of the recessed surface56via the upper and lower slits54, as shown inFIG. 10.

Each rearward facing surface57is formed along a line extending in the vertical direction in a side view. Further, the respective rearward facing surfaces57are formed to be successively located more outward toward a front end. as shown inFIG. 11. The inner surface of each side wall53is flat in the front-rear direction except at the interfering portion48, as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8. Thus, each side wall53becomes gradually thinner toward a rear except at the interfering portion48in the recessed surface56.

As shown inFIG. 13, the detecting body42is a plate extending in the front-rear direction between upper ends of the side walls53. Further, the detector11includes two coupling portions59bridged between side surfaces on both widthwise sides of the detecting body42and the side walls53.

The detecting body42is slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the lock arm15while being inserted in the assembly space37of the lock arm15, and is tiltable together with the arm body36with the respective coupling portions59as supports.

The detecting body42includes a base61extending in the width direction in a rear end part, a resilient arm62projecting forward from a widthwise central part of the base61, two guide arms63projecting forward from both widthwise ends of the base61, and a plate-like cover64bridged between the respective guide arms63and arranged to straddle over the resilient arm62. A front part of the detecting body42projects farther forward than the front end of the fitting45.

The resilient arm62and the respective guide arms63are parallel to each other. When the detecting body42is inserted into the assembly space37of the lock arm15, upward protruding parts of the respective rails39are fit into spaces between the resilient arm62and the respective guide arms63as shown inFIG. 1and the plate-like portion41is fit into a space between the resilient arm62and the cover64, as shown inFIG. 3.

The guide arms63include two rail grooves44extending in the front-rear direction in the inner surfaces thereof, as shown inFIG. 12. The guide arms63are mounted on the lock arm15to embrace the respective rails39from outside with the laterally protruding parts (seeFIG. 15) of the respective rails39fit in the respective rail grooves44.

The guide arms63include ribs65extending in the front-rear direction while projecting up. As shown inFIG. 3, a rear part of the upper surface of each rib65is inclined down toward a rear end.

The guide arms63include detector side locking projections68projecting toward each other on inner sides. The detector side locking projections68are arranged on lower surfaces of the corresponding rail grooves44. When the detector11is at the standby position, the detector side locking projections68are lockable to the corresponding housing side locking projections40.

The claw-like detector lock43projects down on a front part of the resilient arm62. The detector lock43contacts the rear surface of the housing lock38at the standby position to restrict a movement of the detector11to the detection position as shown inFIG. 3, and is in contact with the front surface of the housing lock38at the detection position to restrict a movement of the detector11in a return direction to the standby position, as shown inFIG. 5.

As shown inFIG. 10, the cover64has both widthwise sides coupled to lower parts of the inner surfaces of the ribs65and the flat upper surface thereof is located slightly below the upper surfaces of the ribs65. As shown inFIG. 13, the rear end of the cover64is spaced apart from the base61.

As shown inFIG. 13, each coupling59is a tapered strip plate extending oblique to the width direction and the front-rear direction from a front end part of the inner surface of each side wall53to a substantially central part in the front-rear direction of an upper part of the outer surface of each rib65(side surface of the detecting body42). The upper surface of each coupling59is substantially continuous and flush with the upper surface of each rib65without any step. The front end of each coupling59is at substantially the same position as the front end of each side wall53(also the front end of the fitting45). The coupling59, the side wall53and the rib65form substantially a Z-shape in a plan view.

A tilting fulcrum66is defined where a rear end of each coupling59is connected to the corresponding rib65of the detecting body42and is twisted and deformed resiliently when the detecting body42is tilted. The tilting fulcrum66of each coupling59is at a position in the front-rear direction overlapping the corresponding leg35that serves as a tilting fulcrum of the lock arm15and is substantially at the same position as the corresponding leg35in the front-rear direction at the standby position.

The fitting45includes an opening69that opens upward between the upper ends of the respective side walls53. As shown inFIG. 13, the detecting body42is exposed to the opening69and can be confirmed visually from above through the opening69.

Next, how to connect/separate the housings10,90is described.

First, the detector11is assembled with the housing10. The assembling of the detector11at the standby position is guided by fitting the respective rails39of the lock arm15into the rail grooves44of the respective guide arms63and fitting the rear part of the housing body13into the insertion space46. At the standby position, the locking claw23of the retaining arm52is in contact with the front surface of the retaining protrusion22to be lockable to this front surface, as shown inFIG. 3, and the respective detecting member side locking projections68are in contact with the front surfaces of the respective housing side locking projections40to be lockable to these front surfaces, as shown inFIG. 17. In this way, the detector11is retained on both upper and lower sides with respect to the housing10and the rearward escape is restricted reliably. Further, the detector lock43of the detecting body42is in contact with and lockable to the rear surface of the housing lock38of the lock arm15to restrict a forward movement of the detector11toward the detection position.

Further, at the standby position, a clearance (part of the open space34ofFIG. 1) is formed between the cover64and the bridge33, as shown inFIG. 1, and a front part of the resilient arm62is exposed in this clearance to be visually confirmable. Furthermore, at the standby position, the interfering portions48of the respective resilient pieces55are arranged to face and to contact projecting inclined parts of the rear surfaces of the respective protrusions27from behind, as shown inFIG. 6.

The housing10then is connected to the mating housing90. In the process of connecting the housings10,90, the housing lock38of the arm body36rides on the lock93, and the arm body36is tilted in a seesaw manner in the vertical direction with the legs35as supports, as shown inFIG. 4. At this time, the detecting body42also tilts with the arm body36with the respective couplings59as supports. Since the tilting fulcrums66of the respective couplings59and the respective legs35are arranged at the same position in the front-rear direction, a tilting displacement of the lock arm15and that of the arm body36are synchronized satisfactorily substantially without interfering with each other.

When the housings10,90are connected properly, the arm body36resiliently returns to an initial substantially horizontal state and the lock93is in contact with the rear surface of the housing locking portion38to be lockable to this rear surface. On the other hand, the detector locking portion43is pushed up by the lock93and unlocked from the housing locking portion38. In this way, a movement of the detector11from the standby position to the detection position in front of the standby position is allowed. Further, when the housings10,90are connected properly, the respective mating terminal fittings92are inserted to a proper depth into the connecting portions19of the respective terminal fittings12to be connected electrically.

Subsequently, the detector11is moved to the detection position while being gripped by fingers, as shown inFIG. 9. A worker can move the detector11toward the detection position by placing the fingers in contact with the respective side walls53of the fitting45of the detector11and pushing the detector11forward. The side walls53include the recessed surfaces56and the respective rearward facing surfaces57of the recessed surfaces56are provided in plural rows to extend in the front-rear direction while facing rearward. Thus, the worker can select the respective rearward facing surfaces57as operating areas. Then, the worker presses the detector11forward while placing the fingers in contact with the respective rearward facing surfaces57, thereby being able to move the detector11toward the detection position without slipping the fingers on the recessed surfaces56.

In the process of moving the detector11to the detection position, the interfering portions48of the respective resilient pieces55contact with and ride on the respective protrusions27and the respective resilient pieces55are deflected and deformed to bulge out from the recessed surfaces56, as shown inFIG. 7. At this time, the worker can touch the bulging resilient pieces55(in particular, th rearward facing surfaces57and the laterally facing surfaces58of the resilient pieces55) while his fingers are pushed by the resilient pieces55, and can feel the bulge of each resilient piece55through the fingers. Further, in the process of moving the detector11to the detection position, the detecting member locking portion43slides on the upper surface of the housing locking portion38, and the resilient arm62is deflected and deformed with a rear end side near the base portion61as a supporting point.

Immediately before the detector11reaches the detection position, the interfering portions48of the resilient pieces55ride over the protrusions27and the resilient pieces55resiliently return to eliminate the bulge. As the resilient pieces55resiliently return, the detector11arrives at the detection position at once and the resilient arm62also resiliently returns. Thus, the detector locking portion43is in contact with the front surface of the housing locking portion38to be lockable to this front surface, as shown inFIG. 3. In this way, a movement of the detector11in the return direction to the standby position is restricted. Further, since the front end of the cover64is arranged to contact the bridge33, as shown inFIG. 2, and the back wall47of the fitting45is arranged to contact the rear part of the housing body13, a forward movement of the detector11beyond the detection position is restricted. A front part of the resilient arm62is hidden inside the bridge33and cannot be seen from above. Further, when the detector11is at the detection position, the interfering portions48of the resilient pieces55are separated forward from the protrusions27and not in contact with the protrusions27, as shown inFIG. 8.

If the housings10,90are not connected properly and the lock93is not locked to the housing locking portion38, the detector locking portion43is kept locked to the housing locking portion38. Thus, the detector11cannot be moved from the standby position to the detection position. Therefore, it can be judged that the housings10,90are connected properly if the detector11can be moved toward the detection position and the housings10,90are not connected properly unless the detector11can be moved to the detection position.

That the detector11at the detection position can be detected by visually confirming a moving state of the detector11with respect to the housing10, for example, by visually confirming a state where the front end of the cover64is in contact with the bridge33as shown inFIG. 2. Further, a movement of the detector11to the detection position also can be sensed by an operation feeling when the resilient arm62resiliently returns.

The presence of the detector11at the detection position also can be detected tactually by fingers of a worker. Specifically, the worker moves the detector11to the detection position while placing his or her fingers in contact with the rearward facing surfaces57on the outer sides of the resilient pieces55and also on areas of the side walls53near the resilient pieces55and adjacent the upper and lower slits54. Thus, the fingers can confirm the existence and the elimination of the bulge of each resilient piece55.

On the other hand, the housings10,90are separated from each other for maintenance or the like by inserting fingertips into the opening69of the fitting45and pushing a rear end side (base61and the like) of the detecting body42down by the fingertips. The detecting body42then is tilted together with the arm body36, and the lock arm15and the lock93are unlocked from each other. If the detector11is pressed rearward in that state, the housings10,90gradually move in separating directions and the detector11also moves in the return direction to the standby position. The locking claw23of the retaining arm52then is locked to the retaining protrusion22to keep the detector11at the standby position with respect to the housing10, and the housings10,90are pulled apart.

As described above, the respective couplings59configured to be deformed resiliently when the detecting body42is tilted extend in the oblique directions intersecting the width direction from the inner surfaces of the respective side walls53to the corresponding side surfaces of the detecting body42. Thus, extending lengths can be made longer as compared to couplings merely extending in the width direction. Therefore, the rigidity of the respective couplings59is reduced and the respective couplings59are deformed more easily resiliently. As a result, an increase of connection resistance of the housings10,90due to the rigidity of the detecting body42can be prevented when the arm body36of the lock arm15is tilted.

Further, since the tilting fulcrums66of the respective couplings59are arranged at positions overlapping the respective legs35serving as the tilting fulcrum of the lock arm15in the front-rear direction, tilting displacements of both the detecting body42and the lock arm15can be synchronized smoothly.

Other embodiments are briefly described below.

Although the coupling in the above embodiment extends obliquely rearward from the side wall to the detecting body, the coupling may conversely extend obliquely forward from the side wall to the detecting body.

The detector may include a biasing member such as a coil spring inside and be configured such that a biasing force of the biasing member is accumulated in the process of connecting the housings and the biasing force of the biasing member is released as the housings are connected properly to automatically move the detector from the standby position to the detection position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS