Patent Publication Number: US-2023142085-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a locking structure of a cover and a housing. The housing includes protrusions on both left and right side walls. The cover includes resilient deflection pieces at positions corresponding to the protrusions. By pushing the cover to the housing, the resilient deflection pieces lock the protrusions and the cover is retained and held on the housing. A locking structure of a cover and a housing is also disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2004-350342 A 
         Patent Document 2: JP 2008-010340 A 
         Patent Document 3: JP 2017-073300 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved 
     It is considered to apply the above locking structure of the cover and the housing to a locking structure for holding both male and female housings in a connected state. For example, it is considered to provide a lock portion on an outer surface on an opening end side of a receptacle of the male housing and lock a lock arm of the female housing to the lock portion. However, there is a concern that the opening end side of the receptacle is deformed inwardly. Thus, there is a concern that the opening end side of the receptacle is deformed inwardly within a range of the clearance and a tip part of the lock arm is lifted up from the outer surface of the receptacle. As a result, the tip part of the lock arm is possibly easily contacted by a finger or the like and the locking of the lock arm and the lock portion may be accidentally released. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector configured to avoid the unlocking of a lock arm and a lock portion. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a female connector and a male connector connectable to each other, wherein the male connector includes a tubular receptacle and a lock portion projecting on an outer surface of the receptacle, the female connector includes a housing to be fit into the receptacle and a lock arm deflectably and deformably projecting on an outer surface of the housing, the lock arm locks the lock portion while being in contact with an outer surface on an opening end side of the receptacle, thereby holding the female connector and the male connector in a connected state, a tip-side restricting portion configured to come into contact with or proximately face a tip part of the lock arm is provided on the outer surface of the receptacle, and a sealing member is held in close contact with an inner surface on the opening end side of the receptacle. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector configured to avoid the unlocking of a lock arm and a lock portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view showing a state where a female connector and a male connector are properly connected to each other in a connector according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a section along A-A of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a section along B-B of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a front view of the male connector. 
         FIG.  5    is a front view of the female connector. 
         FIG.  6    is a side view in section of the female connector. 
         FIG.  7    is a front view of a holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a female connector and a male connector connectable to each other, wherein the male connector includes a tubular receptacle and a lock portion projecting on an outer surface of the receptacle, the female connector includes a housing to be fit into the receptacle and a lock arm deflectably and deformably projecting on an outer surface of the housing, the lock arm locks the lock portion while being in contact with an outer surface on an opening end side of the receptacle, thereby holding the female connector and the male connector in a connected state, a tip-side restricting portion configured to come into contact with or proximately face a tip part of the lock arm is provided on the outer surface of the receptacle, and a sealing member is held in close contact with an inner surface on the opening end side of the receptacle. 
     According to the above configuration, since the tip-side restricting portion is in contact with or proximately facing the tip part of the lock arm with the lock arm locking the lock portion, it is possible to prevent the entrance of a finger or the like into a clearance between the tip part of the lock arm and the tip-side restricting portion. Further, since the sealing member is held in close contact with the inner surface on the opening end side of the receptacle to eliminate a clearance, inward deformation of the opening end side of the receptacle can be suppressed. Thus, the tip part of the lock arm can be suppressed from being lifted up from the outer surface of the receptacle. As a result, a situation where the locking of the lock arm and the lock portion is released by a finger or the like can be reliably prevented. 
     (2) Preferably, lateral restricting portions configured to come into contact with or proximately face side edge parts on both sides in a width direction of the lock arm are provided on the outer surface of the receptacle. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the entrance of a finger or the like into clearances between the lock arm and the lateral restricting portions. As a result, a situation where the locking of the lock arm and the lock portion is released by a finger or the like can be reliably prevented. 
     (3) The sealing member may include a plurality of sealing holes, penetrating members being inserted into the plurality of sealing holes in a liquid-tight manner. According to this configuration, by the penetrating members inserted into the sealing holes, inward deformation of the sealing member is suppressed and a pressure can be applied to the inner surface on the opening end side of the receptacle. As a result, inward deformation of the opening end side of the receptacle can be more reliably prevented. Note that the penetrating members include wires, holder lock portions, positioning portion and the like. 
     (4) The tip part of the lock arm may be at the same height or lower than the tip-side restricting portion in an in-out direction with the lock arm held in contact with the outer surface on the opening end side of the receptacle. According to this configuration, even if a finger or the like is forcibly inserted into between the tip part of the lock arm and the tip-side restricting portion, the tip part of the lock arm is hardly pulled up. Thus, a situation where the locking of the lock arm and the lock portion is released can be more reliably prevented. 
     Details of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     A specific example of an embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention 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. 
     A connector according to the embodiment includes a female connector  60  and a male connector  10  connectable to each other as shown in  FIG.  2   . The male connector  10  is fixed to a case of a device such as an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle. Note that, in this specification, a connecting direction of the female connector  60  and the male connector  10  is described as a “front-rear direction”. “Front sides” are surface sides facing each other when the connection of the female connector  60  and the male connector  10  is started. The front side of the female connector  60  is a side forward of the plane of  FIG.  5    and a left side of  FIG.  6   . The front side of the male connector  10  is a side forward of the plane of  FIG.  4   . Concerning a “vertical direction”, a side thickened via a step  38  to be described later is referred to as an upper side and an opposite side is referred to as a lower side. An upper side of each figure except  FIG.  1    is an upper side. Further, a direction intersecting, specifically orthogonal to, both the “vertical direction” and the “front-rear direction” is defined as a “width direction”. In each figure except  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a forward direction is represented by an “X direction”, a rightward direction along the width direction when the female connector  60  and the male connector  10  are viewed from front is represented by a “Y direction” and an upward direction is represented by a “Z direction”. Each direction is a direction for the convenience of description and does not limit a direction during assembling and during use. 
     &lt;Male Connector&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the male connector  10  includes a mounting portion  11  to be mounted on a case  100 , a tubular receptacle  12  projecting forward from the mounting portion  11 , a tubular second receptacle  13  projecting rearward from the mounting portion  11  and a plurality of male terminal fittings  20  mounted in the mounting portion  11  by insert molding. The mounting portion  11 , the receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  13  are made of synthetic resin and constitute a housing part of the male connector  10 . The male terminal fitting  20  is made of electrically conductive metal and configured as a busbar extending in the front-rear direction. A front part of the male terminal fitting  20  is arranged to project into the receptacle  12 . A rear part of the male terminal fitting  20  is arranged to project into the second receptacle  13 . The receptacle  12  is arranged inside the case  100  and fit to the female connector  60 . The second receptacle  13  is arranged outside the case  100  and fit to an unillustrated external connector. The male connector  10  is configured as a relay connector. 
     The mounting portion  11  has a cylindrical shape. A sealing ring  25  made of rubber is mounted on the outer surface of the mounting portion  11 . The sealing ring  25  seals between the mounting portion  11  and the case  100  in a liquid-tight manner. As shown in  FIG.  4   , a mounting piece  14  protruding to one side (left side of  FIG.  4   ) is continuous with the mounting portion  11 . The mounting piece  14  is in the form of a plate piece having a plate thickness in the front-rear direction. A circular bolt hole  15  is provided to penetrate through the mounting piece  14  in the front-rear direction. The male connector  10  is fixed to the case  100  via an unillustrated bolt inserted through the bolt hole  15 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the receptacle  12  has a tubular shape with four rounded corners and has flat upper and lower walls  16  along the width direction (lateral direction of  FIGS.  3  and  4   ). A pair of guide portions  17  are provided on each of the upper and lower walls  16 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the respective guide portions  17  are in the form of ribs extending in the front-rear direction and are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides across central parts in the width direction of the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls  16 . Each guide portion  17  is provided from the front end (opening end) of the receptacle  12  to a stepped portion  18  continuous with the mounting portion  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , a pair of lock portions  19  are provided between the respective guide portions  17  (guide portions  17  paired in the width direction) on the upper and lower walls  16 . Each lock portion  19  is claw-like and projects in the central part in the width direction of the outer surface of the upper/lower wall  16 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the front surface of each lock portion  19  is inclined rearward. The rear surface of each lock portion  19  is arranged along the vertical direction. 
     A pair of tip-side restricting portions  31  project behind the respective lock portions  19  on the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls  16 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the tip-side restricting portion  31  is in the form of a rib connected at a right angle to the respective guide portions  17  and extending in the width direction between the respective guide portions  17 . When the male connector  10  is viewed from above or below, the respective guide portions  17  and tip-side restricting portion  31  form a H shape. The outer surface of the tip-side restricting portion  31  and those of the guide portions  17  are continuous without any step. 
     A part of each guide portion  17  from a position intersecting the tip-side restricting portion  31  to the front end (opening end) of the upper/lower wall  16  is configured as a lateral restricting portion  32 . 
     A pair of cut portions  33  are provided forward of the respective lock portions  19  by recessing the front ends of the upper and lower walls  16 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , the cut portion  33  is provided between the respective lateral restricting portions  32  (lateral restricting portions  32  paired in the width direction). Both ends in the width direction of the cut portion  33  are closed by rising ends of the respective lateral restricting portions  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , inner dimensions of the receptacle  12  are reduced in three stages from an opening end side to a back end side of the receptacle  12 . The opening end side of the receptacle  12  includes a tip opening portion  34  and an intermediate opening portion  35  backward of the tip opening portion  34 . The back end side of the receptacle  12  includes a back end portion  36 . The lock portions  19  are provided on the upper and lower walls  16  of the intermediate opening portion  35 . The tip side restricting portions  31  are provided on the upper and lower walls  16  of the intermediate opening portion  36 . A step  37  is formed over an entire periphery between the tip opening portion  34  and the intermediate opening portion  35  in the receptacle  12 . The large step  38  is formed in an upper part between the intermediate opening portion  35  and the back end portion  36  in the receptacle  12 . A thickness of the receptacle  12  is reduced in the order of the back end portion  36 , the intermediate opening portion  35  and the tip opening portion  34 . 
     &lt;Female Connector&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the female connector  60  includes a housing  61 , female terminal fittings  80  to be accommodated into the housing  61  and a sealing member  90 . The housing  61  is made of synthetic resin and includes a housing body  62  and a holder  63  separable from and unitable with each other. The housing body  62  and the holder  63  are held in a united state across the sealing member  90 . The female terminal fitting  80  is made of electrically conductive metal and a rear part thereof is connected to an end part of a wire  85 . A tubular connecting portion  81  is provided in a front part of the female terminal fitting  80 . A front part of the male terminal fitting  20  is inserted and connected to the connecting portion  81 . 
     The housing body  62  includes a plurality of cavities  64 . Each cavity  64  extends in the front-rear direction and is open in the front and rear surfaces of the housing body  62 . The female terminal fitting  80  is inserted into the cavity  64  from behind. The housing body  62  is provided with a retainer mounting hole  65  communicating with each cavity  64 . A retainer  86  is inserted into the retainer mounting hole  65  from below. The retainer  86  locks the female terminal fittings  80  inserted into the respective cavities  64 . In this way, the female terminal fittings  80  are restricted from coming out from the cavities  64 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , a back wall portion  66  is provided in a rear end part of the housing body  62 . The back wall portion  66  closes the rear surface of the retainer mounting hole  65 . The back wall portion  66  includes a rising wall portion  67  projecting further upward than the upper surface of a front part of the housing body  62 . The rising wall portion  67  is in the form of a rectangular wall long in the width direction. As shown in  FIG.  5   , a circular through hole  68  is provided to penetrate in the front-rear direction through a central part in the width direction of the rising wall portion  67 . A pair of rectangular locking holes  69  are provided to penetrate in the front-rear direction through both side parts in the width direction of the rising wall portion  67 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , a claw-like locking projection  71  is provided on the inner wall of the locking hole  69 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , a front lower side of the housing body  62  is narrower than a front upper side. Both end parts in the width direction of a lower side of the back wall portion  66  are exposed forward of the housing body  61  due to the narrowing of the front lower side of the housing body  62 . Locking holes  69  including locking projections  71  similar to the above ones are provided also in both end parts in the width direction of the lower side of the back wall portion  66 . The cavities  64  in both end parts in the width direction of a front upper side of the housing body  62  are located above the locking holes  69 . 
     The sealing member  90  is made of rubber such as silicon rubber and in the form of a mat having a certain thickness in the front-rear direction as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  6   . The front surface of the sealing member  90  is held in close contact with the rear surface of the housing body  62 . The sealing member  90  includes a plurality of circular first sealing holes  91  at positions communicating with the respective cavities  64  as shown in  FIG.  3   . The sealing member  90  is configured as a one-piece rubber plug. 
     The sealing member  90  includes a plurality of second sealing holes  92  having a circular cross-section at positions communicating with the respective locking holes  69 . The sealing member  90  includes a third sealing hole  93  having a circular cross-section at a position communicating with the through hole  68 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the second and third sealing holes  92 ,  93  have the same hole diameter, which is larger than that of the first sealing holes  91 . The outer peripheral shape of the sealing member  90  is a rectangular shape with four rounded corners, similarly to the inner peripheral shape of the receptacle  12 , and the upper and lower surfaces thereof are arranged along the width direction. A plurality of outer peripheral lips  94  are circumferentially provided on the outer surface of the sealing member  90  as shown in  FIG.  6   . The respective outer peripheral lips  94  are provided side by side in the front-rear direction on the outer surface of the sealing member  90 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the outer peripheral lip  94  of the sealing member  90  protrudes outwardly of the housing body  62  in a front view of the female connector  60 . 
     The holder  63  is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown in  FIG.  6   , a holder body  72  having a certain thickness in the front-rear direction. As shown in  FIG.  7   , the outer peripheral shape of the holder body  72  is similar to the outer peripheral shape of the sealing member  90  and the inner peripheral shape of the receptacle  12 . As shown in  FIG.  7   , the holder body  72  includes a plurality of insertion holes  73  at positions communicating with the respective cavities  64  and the respective first sealing holes  91 . Each insertion hole  73  has a rectangular opening shape corresponding to the connecting portion  81  of the female terminal fitting  80 . A plurality of holder lock portions  74  are provided to project at positions corresponding to the respective locking holes  69  and the respective second sealing holes  92  on the front surface of the holder body  72 . Each holder lock portion  74  includes a cylindrical base end part connected to a front surface side of the holder body  72  and a tip part having a claw-like holder projection  75  projecting on a front end. The holder projections  75  project downward from two holder lock portions  74  arranged on an upper side of the front surface of the holder body  72 . The holder projections  75  project upward from two holder lock portions  74  arranged on a lower side of the front surface of the holder body  72 . 
     A positioning portion  76  is provided to project at a position corresponding to the through hole  68  and the third sealing hole  93  on the front surface of the holder body  72 . The positioning portion  76  has a cylindrical shape as a whole. A diameter of the positioning portion  76  is equal to that of the base end part of the holder lock portion  74 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , the holder body  72  includes a pair of lock arms  77  projecting from upper and lower surfaces. Each lock arm  77  is in the form of a plate piece along the width direction. Further, as shown in  FIG.  6   , each lock arm  77  is L-shaped in a side view and includes a rising portion  78  rising from a central part in the width direction of the upper/lower surface of the holder body  72  and a projecting portion  79  projecting forward from the tip of the rising portion  78  in a rising direction. Each lock arm  77  includes a lock hole  87  open from the rising portion  78  to the projecting portion  79 . The projecting portion  79  of each lock arm  77  is gate-shaped and includes a tip part  88  along the width direction as shown in  FIG.  1   . The tip part  88  closes (defines) the front surface of the lock hole  87 . A vertical thickness (height) of the projecting portion  79  of each lock arm  77  is constant as a whole and larger than that of each lock portion  19  and smaller those of the tip-side restricting portion  31  and the lateral restricting portions  32 . 
     &lt;Assembly Structure of Female Connector and Connection Structure of Female Connector and Male Connector&gt; 
     In assembling the female connector  60 , the holder  63  is mounted on the housing body  62  from behind with the sealing member  90  located therebetween. The positioning portion  76  is inserted from the third sealing hole  93  of the sealing member  90  to the through hole  68  of the back wall portion  66  (see  FIG.  2   ). A base end part of the positioning portion  76  is inserted in the third sealing hole  93  in a liquid-tight manner. A tip part of the positioning portion  76  is tightly fit in the through hole  68 . The holder lock portions  74  are inserted from the second sealing holes  92  of the sealing member  90  to the locking holes  69  of the back wall portion  66  (see  FIG.  6   ). The base end parts of the holder lock portions  74  are inserted in the second sealing holes  92  in a liquid-tight manner. A space for allowing the tip part of the holder lock portion  74  to be deflected and deformed is secured in the locking hole  69 . The holder projections  75  of the holder lock portions  74  are locked to the locking projections  71  of the respective locking holes  69 . In this way, the holder  63  is locked and fixed to the housing  61 . The sealing member  90  is sandwiched between the housing  61  and the holder  63  to be retained and held. 
     Subsequently, each female terminal fitting  80  is inserted into the cavity  64  from the insertion hole  73  by way of the first sealing hole  91  from behind the housing  61 . If the female terminal fitting  80  is properly inserted into the cavity  64 , the wire  85  is inserted in the first sealing hole  91  in a liquid-tight manner. Thereafter, the retainer  86  is inserted with a proper depth into the retainer mounting hole  65  and the female terminal fittings  80  are retained in the cavities  64  (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     In starting a connecting operation of the female connector  60  and the male connector  10 , the female connector  60  and the male connector  10  are directly opposed to each other. In that state, the housing  61  is fit into the receptacle  12 . In a fitting process of the housing  61 , the tip parts  88  of the lock arms  77  slide on the lock portions  19  and the projecting portions  79  of the lock arms  77  are deflected and deformed (tilted and deformed) outward with the rising portions  78  as fulcrums. When the housing  61  is properly fit into the receptacle  12 , the lock arms  77  resiliently return and the projecting portions  79  come into contact with the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls  16  of the receptacle  12 . As the lock arms  77  resiliently return, the lock portions  19  are fit into the lock holes  87 . In this way, the housing  61  is held in the receptacle  12  with separation restricted. 
     With the housing  61  properly fit in the receptacle  12 , the front part of the housing body  62  is fit in the back end part  36  of the receptacle  12  as shown in  FIG.  2   . The back wall portion  66  is fit in the intermediate opening portion  35  of the receptacle  12 . The rising wall portion  67  is arranged to be able to come into contact with the step  38 . The sealing member  90  is fit into the tip opening portion  34  of the receptacle  12 . An outer peripheral edge part of the front surface of the sealing member  90  is arranged to be able to come into contact with the step  38 . Each outer peripheral lip  94  of the sealing member  90  is held in close contact with the inner surface of the tip opening portion  34  of the receptacle  12  over an entire periphery. In this way, liquid-tight sealing is provided between the housing  61  and the receptacle  12 . 
     With the housing  61  properly fit in the receptacle  12  and the lock arms  77  locking the lock portions  19 , the rising portions  78  of the lock arms  77  enter the cut portions  33  of the receptacle  12 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the tip part  88  of the lock arm  77  and the tip-side restricting portion  31  are arranged to abut on each other in the front-rear direction. No clearance is formed between the tip part  88  of the lock arm  77  and the tip-side restricting portion  31 . Further, side edge parts  89  on both sides in the width direction of the lock arm  77  and the lateral restricting portions  32  are arranged to abut on each other in the width direction. No clearance is formed between the side edge parts  89  of the lock arm  77  and the lateral restricting portions  32 . That is, the outer periphery of the projecting portion  79  of the lock arm  77  is entirely arranged to contactably face the tip-side restricting portion  31  and the lateral restricting portions  32 . 
     By the above, if the lock arm  77  is inadvertently pulled up when the female connector  60  and the male connector  10  are in a connected state, the lock portion  19  comes out from the lock hole  87  and the locked state of the lock arm  77  and the lock portion  19  cannot be maintained. However, according to this embodiment, since no clearance is formed between the tip part  88  of the lock arm  77  and the tip-side restricting portion  31 , there is no room for a finger or the like between the tip part  88  of the lock arm  77  and the tip-side restricting portion  31 . Further, since no clearance is formed between the side edge parts  89  of the lock arm  77  and the lateral restricting portions  32 , there is also no room for a finger or the like between the side edge parts  89  of the lock arm  77  and the lateral restricting portions  32 . Furthermore, a height of the projecting portion  79  including the tip part  88  of the lock arm  77  is lower than those of the tip-side restricting portion  31  and the lateral restricting portions  32 . Thus, even if a finger or the like touches the tip part  88  of the lock arm  77 , the lock arm  77  cannot be pulled up and the locking of the lock arm  77  and the lock portion  19  can be satisfactorily maintained. 
     Although the opening end side of the receptacle  12  is formed to be thin and, particularly, the tip opening portion  34  of the receptacle  12  is thinnest, inward deformation of the receptacle  12  can be suppressed even if the receptacle  12  receives a locking force of the lock arm  77  since the sealing member  90  is held in close contact with the inner surface of the tip opening portion  34  of the receptacle  12  and the inside of the tip opening portion  34  of the receptacle  12  is tightly filled up by the sealing member  90 . Then, the wire  85  is inserted into each first sealing hole  91  in a liquid-tight manner, each holder lock portion  74  is inserted into each second sealing member  92  in a liquid-tight manner and the positioning portion  76  is inserted into the third sealing hole  93  in a liquid-tight manner, whereby an inward resilient displacement of the sealing member  90  is suppressed and, consequently, inward deformation of the receptacle  12  is also effectively suppressed. As a result, the lock arms  77  are not lifted up from the outer surface of the receptacle  12  in association with inward deformation of the receptacle  12 , and the lock arms  77  can be more reliably prevented from being inadvertently pulled up. 
     Other Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. 
     Although the lock arm is provided on the holder in the case of the above embodiment, the lock arm may be provided on the housing body (part including the cavities capable of accommodating the female terminal fittings) as another embodiment. 
     Although the pair of lock arms are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the housing in the case of the above embodiment, the lock arm may be provided on either one of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing as another embodiment. 
     Although the sealing member is a one-piece rubber plug including the plurality of sealing holes in the case of the above embodiment, the sealing member may be a sealing ring to be mounted on the outer surface of the housing body as another embodiment. 
     Although the male connector is configured as a relay connector in the case of the above embodiment, the male connector may include one receptacle and the rear end parts of the male terminal fittings may be connected to a circuit board or wires as another embodiment. 
     Although the tip part of the lock arm and the tip-side restricting portion are arranged in contact with each other in the case of the above embodiment, the tip part of the lock arm and the tip-side restricting portion may be proximately arranged at a distance from each other as another embodiment. In this case, the tip part of the lock arm and the tip-side restricting portion may be so proximate to each other that a finger or the like does not enter a clearance therebetween. 
     Although the side edge parts of the lock arm and the lateral restricting portions are arranged in contact with each other in the case of the above embodiment, the side edge parts of the lock arm and the lateral restricting portions may be proximately arranged at a distance from each other as another embodiment. In this case, the side edge parts of the lock arm and the lateral restricting portions may be so proximate to each other that a finger or the like does not enter clearances therebetween. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
             10 male connector 
               11  mounting portion 
               12  receptacle 
               13  second receptacle 
               14  mounting piece 
               15  bolt hole 
               16  upper/lower wall 
               17  guide portion 
               18  stepped portion 
               19  lock portion 
               20  male terminal fitting 
               25  sealing ring 
               31  tip-side restricting portion 
               32  lateral restricting portion 
               33  cut portion 
               34  tip opening portion 
               35  intermediate opening portion 
               36  back end part 
               37 ,  38  . . . step 
               60  female connector 
               61  housing 
               62  housing body 
               63  holder 
               64  cavity 
               65  retainer mounting hole 
               66  back wall portion 
               67  rising wall portion 
               68  through hole 
               69  locking hole 
               71  locking projection 
               72  holder body 
               73  insertion hole 
               74  holder lock portion 
               75  holder projection 
               76  positioning portion 
               77  lock arm 
               78  rising portion 
               79  projecting portion 
               80  female terminal fitting 
               81  connecting portion 
               85  wire 
               86  retainer 
               87  lock hole 
               88  tip part 
               89  side edge part 
               90  sealing member 
               91  first sealing hole 
               92  second sealing hole 
               93  third sealing hole 
               94  outer peripheral lip 
               100  case