A first housing is formed with an escaping groove into which a cam pin is insertable. A lever to be assembled with the first housing is provided with a locking protrusion capable of holding the lever in a rotation restricted state by locking an edge part of the escaping groove. A second housing is provided with a first pressing portion for deforming the lever in a direction separating from the first housing by coming into contact with the lever, and a second pressing portion for releasing the rotation restricted state of the lever by coming into contact with the locking protrusion. The first pressing portion first comes into contact with the lever, and the second pressing portion is set to come into contact with the locking protrusion with the lever deformed in the direction separating from the first housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-058027, filed on Mar. 30, 2021, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

A technique disclosed in this specification relates to a lever-type connector.

BACKGROUND

A lever-type connector is configured such that one and the other housings are connected by a cam action by rotating a lever after the lever including a cam groove is mounted on the one housing and the both housings are brought closer to cause a follower pin formed on the other housing to enter the cam groove. Accordingly, in the connector of this type, the lever needs to be held at a predetermined initial position so that the follower pin can properly enter the cam groove at the time of initial connection.

Conventionally, a means for holding a lever at an initial position is known from Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H09-223539. According to this means, locking protrusions6are formed on side edges of the entrances of cam grooves2in a lever3and locked to side edges of escaping grooves7formed in a housing1as shown inFIGS.24and25, whereby the lever3is held in a rotation restricted state from an initial position. On the other hand, a mating housing4is formed with pressing portions8on base end sides of follower pins5. When the both housings1,4are initially fit, the pressing portions8enter the escaping grooves7and ride on inner sides of the locking protrusions6as shown by an arrow x ofFIG.25and the locking protrusions6push the escaping grooves7outwardly while opening the tips of the lever3as shown by an arrow y ofFIG.25, with the result that the rotation restriction of the lever3is released.

SUMMARY

However, in the above configuration, the locking protrusions6may be broken since strong forces are applied to the locking protrusions6when the pressing portions8ride on the locking protrusions6. To enhance the strength of the locking protrusions6, it is considered to make dimensions of the locking protrusions6larger, but the enlargement of the locking protrusions6is not preferable since it leads to the enlargement of the lever3and, consequently, of the connector in terms of the configuration of the escaping grooves7.

The technique disclosed in this specification is directed to a lever-type connector with a first housing including a receptacle, a second housing including a cam pin, the second housing being fit into the receptacle, and a lever provided rotatably on the first housing, the lever including a cam groove for receiving the cam pin, the cam pin being introduced into the cam groove of the lever at an initial position in a connection initial stage of the both housings, the both housings being connected by a cam action between the cam groove and the cam pin as the lever is rotated, wherein the receptacle of the first housing is formed with an escaping groove open forward in a connecting direction, the cam pin being insertable into the escaping groove, the lever is provided with a locking protrusion capable of holding the lever in a rotation restricted state from the initial position by projecting toward the escaping groove and locking an edge part of the escaping groove, the second housing is provided with a first pressing portion projecting outwardly of the second housing and configured to come into contact with the lever and deform the lever in a direction separating from the first housing when the cam pin enters the cam groove of the lever set at the initial position, and a second pressing portion projecting outwardly of the second housing and configured to come into contact with the locking protrusion by entering the escaping groove together with the cam pin and release the rotation restricted state of the lever by pushing the locking protrusion in a direction to be disengaged from the edge part of the escaping groove, and the first pressing portion first comes into contact with the lever and the second pressing portion is set to come into contact with the locking protrusion with the lever deformed in the direction separating from the first housing when the both housings are connected.

According to the lever-type connector disclosed in this specification, it can be suppressed that a force concentrates on the locking protrusion holding the lever to break the locking protrusion when rotation restriction is released.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Summary of Embodiments

(1) The technique disclosed in this specification is directed to a lever-type connector with a first housing including a receptacle, a second housing including a cam pin, the second housing being fit into the receptacle, and a lever provided rotatably on the first housing, the lever including a cam groove for receiving the cam pin, the cam pin being introduced into the cam groove of the lever at an initial position in a connection initial stage of the both housings, the both housings being connected by a cam action between the cam groove and the cam pin as the lever is rotated, wherein the receptacle of the first housing is formed with an escaping groove open forward in a connecting direction, the cam pin being insertable into the escaping groove, the lever is provided with a locking protrusion capable of holding the lever in a rotation restricted state from the initial position by projecting toward the escaping groove and locking an edge part of the escaping groove, the second housing is provided with a first pressing portion projecting outwardly of the second housing and configured to come into contact with the lever and deform the lever in a direction separating from the first housing when the cam pin enters the cam groove of the lever set at the initial position, and a second pressing portion projecting outwardly of the second housing and configured to come into contact with the locking protrusion by entering the escaping groove together with the cam pin and release the rotation restricted state of the lever by pushing the locking protrusion in a direction to be disengaged from the edge part of the escaping groove, and the first pressing portion first comes into contact with the lever and the second pressing portion is set to come into contact with the locking protrusion with the lever deformed in the direction separating from the first housing when the both housings are connected.

According to the above configuration, a locked state of the locking protrusion to the escaping groove can be released by deforming the lever in two stages by the first and second pressing portions. Thus, a contact angle between the second pressing portion and the locking protrusion can be reduced and a force applied to the second pressing portion and the locking protrusion can be reduced as compared to a conventional configuration not provided with the first pressing portion. Hence, the shape degradation (squeezing) of the second pressing portion and the locking protrusion can be suppressed. Further, a force required to connect the both housings can be reduced and workability is improved.

(2) A coupling portion coupling end parts of facing groove walls of the cam groove on a side opposite to the first housing may be provided at an entrance of the cam groove into which the cam pin is introduced, and the first pressing portion may move the lever in the direction separating from the first housing by coming into contact with the coupling portion.

According to the above configuration, a specific configuration for bringing the first pressing portion into contact with the lever can be realized.

(3) The first pressing portion may project in a projecting direction of the cam pin from a tip of the cam pin. According to the above configuration, the first pressing portion can be provided by a simple configuration.

(4) A part of the coupling portion disposed on the entrance side of the cam groove and on the first housing side may serve as a guiding surface obliquely inclined with respect to a moving direction of the first pressing portion to guide the first pressing portion to an inner side of the coupling portion, and a part of the coupling portion disposed on a side opposite to the entrance may serve as a partial connection locking portion intersecting the moving direction of the cam pin.

According to the above configuration, because of the guiding surface, the lever can be smoothly moved by the first pressing portion. Further, when the first pressing portion passes the coupling portion and the lever moves in a direction toward the first housing, the partial connection locking portion locks the first pressing portion to prevent a receding movement of the first pressing portion. Thus, a partially connected state can be set in which the first and second housings are hardly separated.

Details of Embodiment

A specific example of the technique disclosed by this specification is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents.

Embodiment

One embodiment is described with reference toFIGS.1to23. A lever-type connector100of this embodiment includes, as shown inFIG.1, a female connector housing10(an example of a first housing; hereinafter referred to as a female housing), a male connector housing30(an example of a second housing; hereinafter referred to as a male housing), and a lever20to be mounted on the female housing10.

Note that a connection surface side is described as a front side in each of the housings10,30below.

The female housing10is made of synthetic resin and in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped block as a whole. As shown inFIGS.1to3, the female housing10includes a female terminal holding portion11for holding terminals (not shown) and a female receptacle (an example of a receptacle)12surrounding the female terminal holding portion11and open forward. The terminals held in the female terminal holding portion11are, for example, female terminals.

The female receptacle12is shaped to protrude forward from the female terminal holding portion11. As shown inFIGS.1and2, a pair of support shafts13project on the outer surfaces of left and right side walls12A of the female receptacle12. Each support shaft13is provided in a central part of the outer surface of the side wall12A.

The female receptacle12is formed with escaping grooves14, into which cam pins33are inserted and which extend in a front-rear direction. The escaping groove14linearly extends from a position forward of the support shaft13by a predetermined dimension to the front end of the female receptacle12. Further, out of upper and lower groove walls of the escaping groove14facing each other, a lower groove wall14A located below is inclined to expand in diameter toward an inner side of the female receptacle12as shown inFIGS.3and6.

Further, an upper wall12B of the female receptacle12is provided with a resilient locking piece15cantilevered rearward from a central part of the front end of the upper wall12B. The resilient locking piece15locks the lever20at a connection end position to restrict the rotation of the lever20.

The lever20is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown inFIG.1, a pair of cam plate portions21formed with cam grooves23and an operating portion22coupling the pair of cam plate portions21. The lever20is a member for pulling the female housing10and the male housing30toward each other to bring them to a properly connected state by a cam action of the cam grooves23and the cam pins33as being rotated from an initial position for allowing the entrance of the cam pins33into the cam grooves23to the connection end position.

FIG.4is a partial enlarged perspective view of the cam plate portion21viewed from inside (side of the female housing10). As shown inFIGS.1and4, the cam plate portion21is provided with a shaft hole24through which the support shaft13of the female housing10is passed. The cam groove23includes an entrance23A open forward when the lever20is at the initial position and has an arcuate shape to approach the shaft hole24as extending from the entrance23A toward a back end part23B. Note that the cam groove23linearly extends over a predetermined distance.

As shown inFIG.4, a coupling portion25coupling end parts of facing groove walls of the cam groove23on a side opposite to the female housing10is provided in the entrance23A of the cam groove23of the lever20. Out of the coupling portion25, a corner part on the side of the entrance23A of the cam groove23and on an inner side (side of the female housing10) is obliquely cut and serves as a lever-side first guiding surface25A for guiding the entrance of a first pressing portion36to be described later to the inner side of the coupling portion25. Further, the rear surface of the coupling portion25located on a side opposite to the entrance23A of the cam groove23serves as a partial connection locking portion25C extending in a direction perpendicularly intersecting a moving direction of the cam pin33(seeFIG.14).

The lever20is formed with locking protrusions26to be locked into the escaping grooves14of the female housing10. As shown inFIG.4, the locking protrusion26is formed at a position somewhat backward of the entrance23A of the cam groove23toward the back end part23B. The locking protrusion26extends along a groove wall23C disposed on a lower side of the cam groove23and projects inwardly (toward the escaping groove14) of the female receptacle12with the lever20disposed at the initial position. A projection dimension of the locking protrusion26is about slightly less than half the thickness of the groove wall of the escaping groove14as shown inFIG.6.

The lower surface of the locking protrusion26with the lever20disposed at the initial position serves as an inclined rotation restricting surface26A along the lower groove wall14A of the escaping groove14as shown inFIG.6. The locking protrusion26is fit into the escaping groove14from an outer surface side. With the lever20disposed at the initial position, the rotation restricting surfaces26A are hooked to the lower groove walls14A, whereby the lever20is held in a state where counterclockwise rotation from the initial position ofFIG.1is restricted.

Note that the locking protrusion26deviates downward inFIG.6from an entrance path when the cam pin33enters the entrance23A of the cam groove23. Thus, the locking protrusion26does not interfere with the cam pin33having entered the cam groove23.

As shown inFIGS.5and14, a surface of the locking protrusion26disposed on the side of the entrance23A of the cam groove23serves as a lever-side second guiding surface26B inclined toward the entrance23A on a base end side. Further, a surface (rear surface) of the locking protrusion26facing the lever-side second guiding surface26B is a surface vertically upright with respect to an extending direction of the cam groove23.

Further, a groove wall23D of the cam groove23facing the groove wall23C provided with the locking protrusion26(groove wall23D disposed on an upper side of the cam groove23with the lever20disposed at the initial position) is stepped entirely in the extending direction of the cam groove23(seeFIGS.3and6). Specifically, the groove wall23D includes a step portion27in the form of a step protruding inward (downward inFIGS.3and6) in a groove width direction (vertical direction inFIGS.3and6) of the cam groove23from the outer surface of the cam plate portion21toward an inner surface side.

The male housing30is made of synthetic resin and in the form of a rectangular tube as a whole. As shown inFIG.2, the male housing30includes a male terminal holding portion31for holding terminals (not shown) and a male receptacle32surrounding the male terminal holding portion31and open forward. The terminals held in the male terminal holding portion31are, for example, male terminals.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, a pair of the cam pins33project on the outer surfaces of left and right side walls32A of the male receptacle32. As shown inFIG.2, the cam pin33includes a shaft portion34rising outward from the side wall32A of the male receptacle32and a locking portion35having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape and projecting rearward from the tip (tip side in a projecting direction) of the shaft portion34. The locking portion35is a part for locking the step portion27of the lever20described above.

FIGS.7to11are enlarged views of the cam pin33. Out of these figures,FIG.7is a partial enlarged side view of the male housing30, i.e. shows a view of the cam pin33viewed from the side of a tip surface (end surface in the projecting direction)33A. In the following description, an upper side (Z direction), a lower side, a right side (X direction) and a left side inFIG.7are referred to as an upper side, a lower side, a front side and a rear side, and an upper side (Y direction) inFIG.8is referred to as a right side.

As shown inFIG.7, the tip surface33A of the cam pin33has a substantially teardrop shape. Specifically, the tip surface33A of the cam pin33is formed into the substantially teardrop shape by roundly connecting a semicircular first edge part331disposed on the front side, a second edge part332extending rearward along a connecting direction from the lower end (lower end inFIG.7) of the first edge part331and a third edge part333linking the upper end of the first edge part331and the rear end of the second edge part332.

In this embodiment, the first pressing portions36for opening the pair of cam plate portions21of the lever20outward (in directions away from each other) are provided on the tip surfaces33A of a pair of the cam pins33.

FIG.8is a partial enlarged bottom view of the male housing30and shows a view of the cam pin33viewed from a bottom side. As shown inFIG.8, the first pressing portion36has a chevron shape projecting from the tip surface33A of the cam pin33toward an outer side (upper side ofFIG.8) of the male housing30(male receptacle32) in the front-rear direction. As shown inFIGS.7and11, this first pressing portion36is provided on an upper part of the tip surface33A of the cam pin33. Out of the first pressing portion36, an inclined surface disposed on a front side is referred to as a male housing-side first guiding surface36A, a slope disposed on a rear side is referred to as a rear slope36B and a projecting end part is referred to as a top part36C below. A front end36A1(right end part inFIGS.7and8) of the male housing-side first guiding surface36A is located somewhat rearward of the front end of the first edge part331of the cam pin33.

Out of a base end part of the shaft portion34of the cam pin33, a part disposed on an upper side inFIG.7is formed with an upper rib37extending rearward. The upper rib37is shaped to perpendicularly rise from the outer surface of the side wall32A of the male receptacle32(seeFIG.9). The upper rib37is so fit that an upper surface37A (surface disposed on the upper side inFIG.7) thereof slides on the upper groove wall14B of the escaping groove14of the female housing10.

Further, a lower rib38protruding below the shaft portion34and extending in the front-rear direction is formed on a side lower than the base end part of the shaft portion34of the cam pin33inFIG.7. The lower rib38is shaped to perpendicularly rise from the outer surface of the side wall32A of the male receptacle32(seeFIGS.8and10). A rising height of the lower rib38from the side wall32A of the male receptacle32is equal to that of the upper rib37from the side wall32A of the male receptacle32. Further, the rising height of the lower rib38is slightly larger than a height of the groove wall14A of the escaping groove14of the female housing10(plate thickness of the side wall12A of the female receptacle12) (seeFIG.23). A lower surface38A (surface disposed on the lower side inFIG.7) of the lower rib38is fit inside the lower groove wall14A of the escaping groove14of the female housing10.

A front part of this lower rib38serves as a second pressing portion40for releasing the locking of the locking protrusion26with the escaping groove14. The second pressing portion40is a part which comes into contact with the locking protrusion26to push the locking protrusion26outward from the escaping groove14when the male housing30is connected to the female housing10. This second pressing portion40has a male housing-side second guiding surface40A on a front end. The male housing-side second guiding surface40A is inclined to approach the side wall32A of the male receptacle32toward the front side as shown inFIG.8. Further, the male housing-side second guiding surface40A is formed into a substantially triangular shape by cutting a corner part between the front end and the lower end in a side view of the male housing30(seeFIGS.7and10).

Further, the lower rib38is provided with a reinforcing portion39projecting upward and continuous with the rear surface of the shaft portion34of the cam pin33. Further, rear parts of the upper and lower ribs37,38are inclined to approach the side wall32A of the male receptacle32toward the rear side (FIGS.8to10).

The male housing-side first guiding surface36A of the first pressing portion36and the male housing-side second guiding surface40A of the second pressing portion40are disposed at positions different in the front-rear direction. Specifically, as shown inFIGS.7and8, a front end40A1of the male housing-side second guiding surface40A is located slightly forward of the front end36A1of the male housing-side first guiding surface36A. However, a distance L1between the front end36A1of the male housing-side first guiding surface36A and the front end40A1of the male housing-side second guiding surface40A is set shorter than a distance L2(seeFIG.14) from a front end251of the coupling portion25of the lever20disposed at the initial position to a front end261of the locking protrusion26. In this way, in a connection initial stage of the female housing10and the male housing30, the male housing-side first guiding surface36A first comes into contact with the coupling portion25of the lever20and, thereafter, the male housing-side second guiding surface40A comes into contact with the locking protrusion26.

Note that the aforementioned rising heights of the upper and lower ribs37,38are set shorter than heights of the locking portions35of the cam pins33from the side walls32A (seeFIG.8) and set such that the upper and lower ribs37,38slightly project from the outer surface of the female receptacle12when the upper and lower ribs37,38are fit into the escaping groove14of the female receptacle12. Further, the locking portion35of the cam pin33is set at such a height position from the side wall32A of the male receptacle32that the locking portion35slides in contact with the step portion27formed in the cam groove23when the cam pin33is fit into the escaping groove14.

This embodiment is configured as described above. Next, a connecting operation of the female housing10and the male housing30is described. As shown inFIGS.1to3, the lever20is mounted at the initial position on the female housing10. At this time, the locking protrusions26of the lever20are fit into the escaping grooves14from the outer surface sides of the female housing10(female receptacle12) and the rotation restricting surfaces26A are locked to the lower groove walls14A of the escaping grooves14, whereby the lever20is held in a rotation restricted state from the initial position (seeFIGS.5and6). Since the lever20is at the initial position, the entrances23A of the cam grooves23are open forward.

FIG.12is a view of the female housing10and the male housing30immediately before connection when viewed from the back surface side of the male housing30. InFIG.12, a part of the female housing10arranged on a back side and the lever20assembled with the female housing10are seen.

FIG.13is a section along II-II ofFIG.12, i.e. a horizontal section of the female housing10and the male housing30immediately before the connection. InFIG.13, cross-sections of the second pressing portions40and the lower ribs38and cross-sections of the locking protrusions26are seen. Note thatFIG.2described above is a section along I-I ofFIG.12and shows cross-sections of the cam pins33, the upper surfaces of the locking protrusions26, cross-sections of the coupling portions25and the like. Further,FIG.14is an enlarged horizontal section of an essential part ofFIG.2, andFIG.15is an enlarged horizontal section of an essential part ofFIG.13.

With the lever20held at the initial position, the female housing10and the male housing30are shallowly fit. Then, as shown inFIG.16, the first pressing portions36provided on the tip surfaces of the cam pins33come into contact with the coupling portions25provided in the entrances23A of the cam grooves23of the lever20and press inner sides of the pair of coupling portions25, thereby gradually pushing the cam plate portions21more outward, as the cam pins33enter the entrances23A of the cam grooves23.

At this time, the first pressing portion36is provided with the male housing-side first guiding surface36A, and the coupling portion25is provided with the lever-side first guiding surface25A. Accordingly, the first pressing portion36smoothly enters the coupling portion25and the slopes slide in contact with each other, whereby a stress applied to contact portions is dispersed. The pair of cam plate portions21are gently pushed wider apart by the first pressing portions36.

Note that when the first pressing portion36comes into contact with the coupling portion25, the second pressing portion40has not reached the locking protrusion26yet as shown inFIG.17. Further, the locking protrusion26is disposed in the escaping groove14and the rotation restricted state of the lever20is not released yet.

If the both housings10,30are pushed and connected further, the second pressing portions40of the male housing30come into contact with the locking protrusions26of the lever20in a state where the first pressing portions36are riding on the coupling portions25, i.e. in a state where the lever20is opened outward (seeFIG.20).

In this embodiment, the top part36C of the first pressing portion36is in contact with the inner surface of the coupling portion25when the second pressing portion40comes into contact with the locking protrusion26(seeFIGS.18and19). Further, at this point of time, the cam plate portion21is deformed up to a position where the locking protrusion26is just pushed out from the escaping groove14outwardly of the female receptacle12(seeFIGS.20and21). Accordingly, it is suppressed that a large force is applied to the locking protrusion26and the second pressing portion40in contact with each other. Further, at this point of time, the cam plate portion21is deformed up to a position where a corner part of the rear end of the male housing-side second guiding surface40A of the second pressing portion40comes into contact with a corner part of the locking protrusion26on the side of the entrance23A (seeFIG.20).

Further, when the second pressing portion40comes into contact with the locking protrusion26, the locking protrusion26is pushed out from the escaping groove14as described above, whereby the rotation restricted state of the lever20is released (seeFIGS.20and21).

Note thatFIG.19is a vertical section cut at a part where the first pressing portion36of the male housing30and the coupling portion25of the lever20are in contact, andFIG.21is a vertical section cut at a part including a projecting end of the locking protrusion26of the lever20.FIGS.19and21are vertical sections cut at the same point of time.

If the lever20is rotated after the rotation restriction of the lever20is released, the coupling portion25rides over the top part36C of the first pressing portion36as shown inFIG.22and, thereafter, moves along the rear slope36B, whereby the pressing (deformation) of the cam plate portion21by the first pressing portion36is gradually released.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG.23, the rear end of the locking protrusion26rides on the second pressing portion40by passing through the male housing-side second guiding surface40A and slides in contact with the lower rib38continuous with the second pressing portion40, whereby an outwardly deformed state of the cam plate portion21is continued. At this time, a state where the locking protrusion26is completely pushed out from the escaping groove14is continued since a projection dimension of the lower rib38is so set that the lower rib38slightly projects from the outer surface of the female receptacle12as described above.

However, in this embodiment, the projection height of the lower rib38is so set that a corner part between the inner surface of the coupling portion25and the partial connection locking portion25C is disposed inwardly of (closer to the female housing10) than the top part36C of the first pressing portion36as shown inFIG.22. That is, since the coupling portions25and the rear slopes36of the first pressing portions come into contact when the both housings10,30are going to move in separating directions, a partially connected state is set in which easy separation of the both housings10,30is suppressed.

After the rotation restriction of the lever20is released, the female housing10and the male housing30are pulled toward each other by the cam action of the cam grooves23and the cam pins33and the connection proceeds according to the rotation of the lever20. Note that the locking portions35of the cam pins33lock the step portions27of the cam grooves23as the cam pins33move toward the back sides of the cam grooves23.

When the lever20is rotated to the connection end position, the connection of the female housing10and the male housing30is completed and the operating portion22of the lever20is locked by the resilient locking piece15of the female housing10. In this way, the rotation of the lever20is restricted.

Next, functions and effects are described. The lever-type connector100of this embodiment includes the female housing10having the female receptacle12, the male housing30having the cam pins33and to be fit into the female receptacle12, and the lever20rotatably provided on the female housing10and having the cam grooves23for receiving the cam pins33, the cam pins33being introduced into the cam grooves23of the lever20at the initial position in the connection initial stage of the both housings10,30, the both housings10,30being connected by the cam action between the cam grooves23and the cam pins33as the lever20is rotated. The female receptacle12of the female housing10is formed with the escaping grooves14, which are open forward in the connecting direction and into which the cam pins33are insertable. The lever20is provided with the locking protrusions26projecting toward the escaping grooves14and capable of holding the lever20in the rotation restricted state from the initial position by locking the edge parts14C of the escaping grooves14. The male housing30is provided with the first pressing portions36projecting outwardly of the male housing30and configured to come into contact with the lever20and deform the lever20in a direction separating from the female housing10when the cam pins33enter the cam grooves23of the lever20at the initial position, and the second pressing portions40projecting outwardly of the male housing30and configured to come into contact with the locking protrusions26by entering the escaping grooves14together with the cam pins33and push the locking protrusions26in directions to be disengaged from the edge parts14C of the escaping grooves14, thereby releasing the rotation restricted state of the lever20. When the both housings10,30are connected, the first pressing portions36first come into contact with the lever20and the second pressing portions40are set to come into contact with the locking protrusions26with the lever20deformed in the direction separating from the female housing10.

According to the above configuration, the locked state of the locking protrusions26to the escaping grooves14can be released by deforming the lever20in two stages by the first and second pressing portions36,40. Thus, as compared to a conventional configuration not provided with the first pressing portions36, a contact angle between the second pressing portions40and the locking protrusions26can be reduced more than before and forces applied to the second pressing portions40and the locking protrusions26can be reduced. Hence, the shape degradation (squeezing) of the second pressing portions40and the locking protrusions26can be suppressed. Further, a force required to connect the both housings10,30can be reduced and workability is improved.

Further, the coupling portion25coupling the end parts of the facing groove walls23C,23D of the cam groove23on the side opposite to the female housing10is provided at the entrance23A of the cam groove23into which the cam pin33is introduced, and the first pressing portion36moves the lever20in the direction separating from the female housing10by coming into contact with the coupling portion25.

According to the above configuration, a specific configuration for bringing the first pressing portion36into contact with the lever20can be realized.

Further, the first pressing portion36projects in the projecting direction of the cam pin33from the tip of the cam pin33. According to this configuration, the first pressing portion36can be provided by a simple configuration.

Further, the part of the coupling portion25disposed on the side of the entrance23A of the cam groove23and on the side of the female housing10serves as the lever-side first guiding surface25A inclined obliquely with respect to the moving direction of the first pressing portion36to guide the first pressing portion36to the inner side of the coupling portion25, and the part of the coupling portion25disposed on the side opposite to the entrance23A serves as the partial connection locking portion25C intersecting the moving direction of the cam pin33.

According to the above configuration, because of the lever-side first guiding surface25A, the lever20can be smoothly deformed by the first pressing portion36. Further, when the first pressing portion36passes over the coupling portion25, the coupling portion25is hooked to the rear slope36B of the first pressing portion36, thereby suppressing a receding movement of the first pressing portion36. Thus, the partially connected state can be set in which the female housing10and the male housing30are hardly separated.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

(1) Although the front end40A1of the male housing-side second guiding surface40A is located slightly forward of the front end36A1of the male housing-side first guiding surface36A in the above embodiment, a positional relationship of a male housing-side first guiding surface and a male housing-side second guiding surface is not limited to that of the above embodiment. For example, the male housing-side first guiding surface may be located forward of or at the same position as the male housing-side second guiding surface. In short, any configuration may be adopted as long as the first pressing portion first comes into contact with the coupling portion and, thereafter, the second pressing portion comes into contact with the locking protrusion.

(2) Although the second pressing portion40is provided on the tip of the cam pin33in the above embodiment, a second pressing portion may be provided on a part of a cam pin other than a tip.

(3) Although the lever20is deformed up to the position where the locking protrusion26is just pushed out from the escaping groove14by the first pressing portion36in the above embodiment, a locking protrusion may be completely pushed out from an escaping groove by a second pressing portion without a first pressing portion completely pushing the locking protrusion out from the escaping groove. In short, any configuration may be adopted as long as a force applied to the second pressing portion is reduced by the presence of the first pressing portion.