Patent Publication Number: US-2022224046-A1

Title: Connector and connector device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-001806, filed on Jan. 8, 2021, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector and a connector device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H03-030270 includes a first housing and a second housing connectable to each other. The first housing includes a pair of left and right latch arms (first arm, second arm) and a third arm arranged between the respective latch arms. Each latch arm is deflectable and deformable in lateral directions, which are directions toward and away from the third arm. The third arm is deflectable and deformable in a vertical direction. The respective latch arms and the third arm are locked to the second housing. In this way, the first and second housings are held in a connected state. A connector having a plurality of such locking structures is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2006-179265. See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2019-067744. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the case of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H03-030270, spaces for arranging the respective latch arms are necessary on both left and right sides of the third arm. Thus, there is a concern that the connector is enlarged as a whole. Since the plurality of locking structures are provided side by side in the lateral direction in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2006-179265 as in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H03-030270, there is a problem that the connector tends to be enlarged. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to avoid the enlargement of a connector. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a housing body, a lock arm and a sub lock portion, wherein the lock arm and the sub lock portion lock a mating housing to hold the housing body and the mating housing in a connected state, the lock arm is shaped to project from the housing body and be deflectable and deformable, and the sub lock portion is arranged at a position facing the lock arm in a deflecting direction of the lock arm in the housing body. 
     According to a connector and a connector device of the present disclosure, it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the connector. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a section showing a state where a housing and a mating housing are properly connected in a connector device of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a mating connector viewed from front. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the housing viewed from behind. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the housing. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged view viewed from behind the housing showing a locked state of a sub lock portion and a sub lock receiving portion with the housing and the mating housing properly connected. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial enlarged view partly in section viewed from the side of a lock arm showing the locked state of the sub lock portion and the sub lock receiving portion with the housing and the mating housing properly connected. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged view viewed from behind the housing showing a state where a lock arm is resiliently displaced downward, a releasing portion contacts the sub lock portion and the sub lock portion is resiliently displaced in a lateral direction. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing body, a lock arm and a sub lock portion, wherein the lock arm and the sub lock portion lock a mating housing to hold the housing body and the mating housing in a connected state, the lock arm is shaped to project from the housing body and be deflectable and deformable, and the sub lock portion is arranged at a position facing the lock arm in a deflecting direction of the lock arm in the housing body. 
     According to the above configuration, since double locking by the lock arm and the sub lock portion can be applied to the mating housing, the connected state of the housing body and the mating housing can be satisfactorily held. Further, since a space in the deflecting direction of the lock arm is effectively utilized as an installation space for the sub lock portion, space saving can be realized and the enlargement of the connector can be avoided. 
     (2) Preferably, the lock arm includes a releasing portion projecting in the deflecting direction and configured to release locking of the sub lock portion to the mating housing. 
     According to the above configuration, the lock arm is deflected and deformed, whereby the locking of the sub lock portion to the mating housing can be automatically released. Thus, a special operation of releasing the locking of the sub lock portion to the mating housing needs not be performed and releasing workability is excellent. 
     (3) The sub lock portion may be shaped to be deflectable and deformable in a direction intersecting the deflecting direction of the lock arm. 
     According to the above configuration, it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the housing body in the deflecting direction of the lock arm due to the presence of the sub lock portion. 
     (4) At least one of the releasing portion and the sub lock portion may have a cam surface inclined in a direction intersecting the deflecting direction of the lock arm and configured to contact the other of the releasing portion and the sub lock portion. 
     According to the above configuration, the lock arm is deflected and deformed and the releasing portion contacts the sub lock portion, whereby the sub lock portion can be easily deflected and deformed in the direction intersecting the deflecting direction of the lock arm by the inclination of the cam surface. 
     (5) The housing body may include an opening open in a rear surface on a side opposite to a side facing the mating housing and enabling visual confirmation of a locked state of the sub lock portion to the mating housing. 
     According to the above configuration, even if the sub lock portion is arranged at a back side position inside the housing body, the locked state of the sub lock portion to the mating housing can be confirmed through the opening. 
     (6) Further, a connector device of the present disclosure includes the connector of any one of (1) to (5) described above, and a mating connector including the mating housing, wherein the mating housing includes a lock receiving portion to be locked to the lock arm, a sub lock receiving portion to be locked to the sub lock portion and a receptacle into which a plurality of mating terminals project, and the lock receiving portion is shaped to penetrate through or be recessed in a peripheral wall of the receptacle. 
     According to the above configuration, since the lock receiving portion is within a thickness range of the peripheral wall of the receptacle, it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the receptacle due to the presence of the lock receiving portion. 
     In contrast, if the thickness of the peripheral wall of the receptacle cannot be increased due to a request for size reduction, a formation range of the lock receiving portion becomes smaller and it becomes difficult to ensure locking strength of the lock receiving portion to the lock arm. In that sense, according to the present disclosure, the locking of the sub lock portion and the sub lock receiving portion is realized in addition to the locking of the lock arm and the lock receiving portion. Thus, the connected state of the housing body and the mating housing can be satisfactorily held. 
     (7) The mating housing may include a protrusion projecting into the receptacle and arranged between the plurality of mating terminals, and the sub lock receiving portion may be provided on the protrusion. 
     According to the above configuration, the protrusion is provided between the plurality of mating terminals with good space efficiency in the receptacle. Since the sub lock receiving portion is provided on this protrusion, it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the receptacle due to the presence of the sub lock receiving portion. 
     Details of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     A specific example of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this illustration 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 device of this embodiment includes a connector  10  and a mating connector  60  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The connector  10  is a female connector and includes a housing  11  and female terminals  50 . The mating connector  60  is a male connector and includes a mating housing  61  and male mating terminals  80 . This mating connector  60  is a board connector to be mounted on a circuit board  90 . The housing  11  and the mating housing  61  are connectable to each other. Note that, in the following description, surface sides facing each other when the connection of the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  is started are referred to as front sides concerning a front-rear direction. A vertical direction is synonymous with a height direction and based on a vertical direction of  FIG. 1 . A lateral direction is synonymous with a width direction and based on a lateral direction of  FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 . These direction references do not necessarily coincide with directions during use. 
     &lt;Mating Housing&gt; 
     The mating housing  61  is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , disposed on a surface of the circuit board  90 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mating housing  61  includes a receptacle  62  in the form of a rectangular tube long in the lateral direction. The receptacle  62  includes a back wall  63  and a peripheral wall  64  projecting forward from the back wall  63 . The peripheral wall  64  is composed of an upper wall  65 , a lower wall  66  and left and right side walls  67 . Due to a request for height reduction, the upper and lower walls  65 ,  66  are respectively formed to be thinner than the respective side walls  67 . Fixing members  70  made of metal are mounted in the respective side walls  67 . The fixing members  70  are soldered to the surface of the circuit board  90 . The mating housing  61  is fixed to the circuit board  90  via the fixing members  70 . 
     The upper surface of the upper wall  65  and the lower surface of the lower wall  66  are formed to be flat as a whole. The upper wall  65  includes a pair of left and right lock receiving portions  72  on a widthwise central side. Each lock receiving portion  72  is in the form of a hole penetrating through the upper wall  66  in a thickness direction (vertical direction). 
     Further, the receptacle  62  includes a protrusion  68  projecting downward (into the receptacle  62 ) from the lower surface of the upper wall  65 . The protrusion  68  includes a plate-like protrusion body  69 . Left and right plate surfaces of the protrusion body  69  are facing in the lateral direction and arranged along the vertical direction and front-rear direction. The protrusion  68  includes a sub lock receiving portion  71  projecting from a front end lower part of the plate surface on one side (right plate surface of  FIG. 2 ), out of the left and right plate surfaces of the protrusion body  69 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the front surface of the sub lock receiving portion  71  is inclined rearward toward a tip side (one end side) in a projecting direction. The rear surface of the sub lock receiving portion  71  is arranged along the lateral direction. 
     &lt;Mating Terminals&gt; 
     The mating terminal  80  is made of conductive metal and has an elongated shape as a whole. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mating terminal  80  includes a first extending portion  81  extending in the front-rear direction, a second extending portion  82  extending downward from the rear end of the first extending portion  81  and a third extending portion  83  extending rearward from the lower end of the second extending portion  82 . The first extending portion  81  is passed through the back wall  63  at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction, and mounted in the receptacle  62 . A front part of the first extending portion  81  is arranged to project into the receptacle  62 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of the mating terminals  80  are arranged side by side in the width direction in two upper and lower stages in the back wall  63  of the receptacle  62 . The aforementioned protrusion  68  is arranged between the front parts of the first extending portions  81  adjacent in the width direction on a widthwise central side in the receptacle  62 . When the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  are connected, the front ends of the first extending portions  81  contact the terminals  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a rear part of the first extending portion  81 , the second extending portion  82  and the third extending portion  83  are arranged to be exposed behind the back wall  63 . The third extending portion  83  is arranged along the surface of the circuit board  90  and connected to an unillustrated conductive portion of the circuit board  90  by soldering. 
     &lt;Housing&gt; 
     The housing  11  is made of synthetic resin and includes a housing body  12  in the form of a block long in the lateral direction. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing body  12  is fit into the receptacle  62  together with a lock arm  26  to be described later. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the housing body  12  includes a plurality of cavities  13 . The respective cavities  13  are arranged side by side in the width direction in two upper and lower rows to correspond to the respective mating terminals  80  in the housing body  12 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cavities  13  penetrate in the front-rear direction in the housing body  12 . The housing body  12  includes deflectable and deformable locking lances  14  projecting into the cavities  13 . The terminals  50  are inserted into the cavities  13  from behind. The terminals  50  are locked by the locking lances  14  and primarily restricted from coming out from the cavities  13 . 
     The housing  11  includes a front mask  15  to be mounted on the front surface of the housing body  12 . The front mask  15  includes a front wall  16  for covering the respective locking lances  14  from front. The front wall  16  includes tab insertion holes  17  communicating the respective cavities  13 . The first extending portion  81  of the mating terminal  80  is inserted through the tab insertion hole  17 . Any further movement of the terminal  50  is restricted by the terminal  50  contacting the front wall  16 . 
     The housing  11  includes a retainer mount hole  18  open in the lower surface of the housing body  12 . The retainer mount hole  18  communicates the respective cavities  13 . A retainer  20  is inserted into the retainer mount hole  18  from below. The retainer  20  secondarily restricts the escape of the terminals  50  from the cavities  13  by contacting the terminals  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the housing body  12  includes a groove-like opening  19  penetrating in the front-rear direction between the cavities  13  in the upper row adjacent in the width direction on a widthwise central side. The opening  19  extends in the vertical direction and is open in the upper surface of the housing body  12 . 
     In the housing body  12 , a sub lock portion  21  is provided on a side surface on one side (right side surface of  FIG. 3 ), out of left and right side surfaces of the opening  19 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the sub lock portion  21  includes a base portion  22  (see  FIG. 4 ) in the form of a rectangular block projecting from a front end lower part of the side surface on the one side of the opening  19 , a sub lock body  23  extending rearward from the base portion  22  and a sub lock projection  24  projecting toward the other side from an intermediate position of the sub lock body  23  in an extending direction. The sub lock body  23  is deflectable and deformable in the width direction (lateral direction) with a coupled part to the base portion  22  as a fulcrum. A space for allowing the deflection of the sub lock body  23  is provided between the side surface on the one side of the opening  19  and the sub lock body  23 . 
     The sub lock body  23  has a cam surface  25  shaped by chamfering a corner part on the other side of the upper surface (corner part on a side opposite to the space) over the entire length in the front-rear direction. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the cam surface  25  is inclined in a direction intersecting the lateral direction and vertical direction. In the case of this embodiment, the cam surface  25  is formed to have a linear cross-section (tapered shape) facing upward toward the other side. 
     The sub lock projection  24  projects from a lower part of the sub lock body  23 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the housing  11  is viewed from front, the sub lock projection  24  lateral to the base portion  22  can be visually confirmed. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the upper end of the sub lock projection  24  is arranged at a height overlapping the cam surface  25 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the front surface of the sub lock projection  24  is inclined rearward toward a tip side (other end side) in a projecting direction. The rear surface of the sub lock projection  24  is arranged along the lateral direction and vertical direction. 
     The housing  11  includes the lock arm  26  above the housing body  12 . The lock arm  26  includes a base end portion  27  projecting upward from a widthwise central side on the upper surface of the housing body  12 , an arm body  28  extending rearward from the base end portion  27  and an operating portion  29  bent and rising from the rear end of the arm body  28  (see  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 ). The lock arm  26  is deflectable and deformable with the base end portion  27  as a fulcrum. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the base end portion  27  is in the form of a wide rectangular block long in the lateral direction. The arm body  28  and the operating portion  29  are in the form of wide plates continuous from the base end portion  27 . The lock arm  26  includes a slit-like groove portion  31  extending in the front-rear direction from the base end portion  27  to the arm body  28  on a widthwise central side. The groove portion  31  penetrates through the lock arm  26  in the vertical direction and communicates with the opening  19  on a lower side. 
     The lock arm  26  includes a pair of lock projections  32  projecting from both side parts across the groove portion  31  on the upper surface of the arm body  28 . The respective lock projections  32  are fit into the corresponding lock receiving portions  72  when the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  are connected (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the operating portion  29  includes a pair of mold removal holes  33  penetrating in the front-rear direction behind the respective lock projections  32 . The respective mold removal holes  33  are formed by removing an unillustrated mold used to mold the respective lock projections  32 . In separating the housing  11  and the mating housing  61 , the operating portion  29  is pressed. A bridge portion  34  for covering an upper side of the operating portion  29  is provided on the upper surface of the housing body  12 . Excessive deflection (inversion) of the lock arm  26  is restricted by the contact of the operating portion  29  with the bridge portion  34 . An inadvertent pressing operation of the operating portion  29  is restricted by the bridge portion  34 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lock arm  26  includes a releasing portion  35  below the arm body  28 . The releasing portion  35  projects downward from a rear end part on one side, out of both sides across the groove portion  31  on the lower surface of the arm body  28 . The releasing portion  35  is in the form of a plate having plate surfaces facing in the lateral direction. The lower end of the releasing portion  35  is arranged to face the opening  19 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the lower end of the releasing portion  35  has a slant  36  shaped by chamfering a surrounding corner part over the entire periphery. A part of the slant  36  of the releasing portion  35  facing toward the one side (right side of  FIG. 5 ) is arranged to be able to contact the cam surface  25  of the sub lock body  23  from above. 
     &lt;Terminals&gt; 
     The terminal  50  is formed, such as by bending a conductive metal plate. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the terminal  50  includes a tubular connecting portion  51  and a barrel portion  52  in the form of an open barrel provided behind the connecting portion  51 . When the terminal  50  is properly inserted into the cavity  13 , the locking lance  14  is locked to the connecting portion  51 . Further, the retainer  20  is locked to the rear end of the connecting portion  51 . The barrel portion  52  is connected to an end part of a wire  40 . 
     &lt;Connection Structure of Connector Device&gt; 
     The housing  11  is inserted into the receptacle  62  of the mating housing  61 . In an insertion process of the housing  11 , the protrusion  68  is inserted into the groove portion  31  of the lock arm  26 . The lower part of the protrusion  68  is inserted into the opening  19 . The sub lock receiving portion  71  passes through a position proximate to a surface on the other side (lower surface of  FIG. 6 ) of the base portion  22 . 
     In the insertion process of the housing  11 , the lock arm  26  is deflected and deformed. Specifically, the respective lock projections  32  interfere with the front end of the upper wall  65  of the receptacle  62  and the arm body  28  is displaced downward. As shown in  FIG. 7 , if the arm body  28  is displaced downward, the releasing portion  35  is also displaced downward and the lower end thereof enters the opening  19 . In this way, the releasing portion  35  contacts the sub lock portion  21  and the slant  36  of the releasing portion  35  contacts the cam surface  25  of the sub lock body  23 . The sub lock portion  21  is deflected and deformed toward the one side (right side of  FIG. 7 ) by being pressed by the releasing portion  35  via the cam surface  25 . The sub lock projection  24  is displaced toward the one side and arranged to hide behind the base portion  22 . 
     With the sub lock portion  21  deflected and deformed toward the one side, the sub lock receiving portion  71  reaches a position corresponding to the sub lock projection  24 . Since the sub lock projection  24  is retracted toward the one side as described above, the sub lock receiving portion  71  can pass without interfering with the sub lock projection  24 . Thus, in the process of connecting the housing  11  and the mating housing  61 , resistance caused by the interference of the sub lock receiving portion  71  and the sub lock projection  24  is not generated. 
     When the housing  11  is properly inserted into the receptacle  62 , the arm body  28  is displaced in a return direction and the lock projections  32  are fit into the lock receiving portions  72  as shown in  FIG. 1 . As the arm body  28  is displaced in the return direction, the releasing portion  35  comes out from the opening  19 , a pressed state thereof toward the sub lock portion  21  is released and the sub lock body  23  is displaced in a return direction. The sub lock projection  24  returns to an initial natural state position. Then, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the rear surface (rear surface when viewed from the side of the mating housing  61 ) of the sub lock receiving portion  71  faces the rear surface (rear surface when viewed from the side of the mating housing  61 ) of the sub lock projection  24  and the sub lock projection  24  and the sub lock receiving portion  71  are arranged to be lockable to each other. 
     When the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  are properly connected in this way, the locking of the lock arm  26  and the lock receiving portions  72  and the locking of the sub lock portion  21  and the sub lock receiving portion  71  are realized, whereby double locking is applied. Thus, the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  are satisfactorily held in the connected state. Further, the terminals  50  and the mating terminals  80  are also properly connected. 
     In separating the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  for maintenance or other reason, the operating portion  29  is pressed from above. Then, the arm body  28  is displaced downward and the respective lock projections  32  come out from the corresponding lock receiving portions  72 . Further, if the arm body  28  is displaced downward, the releasing portion  35  is also displaced downward. In this way, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the lower end of the releasing portion  35  enters the opening  19  again. When the slant  36  of the releasing portion  35  contacts the cam surface  25  of the sub lock portion  21 , the sub lock portion  21  is deflected and deformed toward the one side (right side of  FIG. 7 ) and the sub lock projection  24  is also displaced toward the one side to release the locking of the sub lock projection  24  and the sub lock receiving portion  71 . In this way, the locking of the lock arm  26  and the lock receiving portions  72  and the locking of the sub lock portion  21  and the sub lock receiving portion  71  are simultaneously released by one pressing operation of the operating portion  29 . If the housing  11  is pulled out from the receptacle  62  with the operating portion  29  pressed, the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  are separated from each other. 
     As described above, since double locking can be applied to the mating housing  61  by the lock arm  26  and the sub lock portion  21  according to this embodiment, the connected state of the housing  11  and the mating housing  61  can be satisfactorily held. 
     Further, since the sub lock portion  21  is arranged in the space below the lock arm  26 , which could be a dead space serving as a deflection space for the lock arm  26 , in the housing body  12 , space saving is realized and the enlargement of the connector  10  can be avoided. 
     Particularly, the sub lock portion  21  is provided in the opening  19  of the housing body  12  and the opening  19  is arranged side by side with the respective cavities  13  in the upper stage in the width direction. Thus, it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the housing body  12  in the height direction (vertical direction) due to the sub lock portion  21 . Moreover, since the sub lock portion  21  is deflectable and deformable in the width direction (lateral direction), which is a direction intersecting a deflecting direction of the lock arm  26 , a height increase of the housing body  12  can be more satisfactorily suppressed. 
     Further, since the lock arm  26  includes the releasing portion  35  projecting downward to release the locking of the sub lock portion  21  and the sub lock receiving portion  71 , the lock arm  26  is deflected and deformed downward, thereby automatically releasing the locking of the sub lock portion  21  and the sub lock receiving portion  71 . Thus, a special operation for releasing the locking of the sub lock portion  21  and the sub lock receiving portion  71  needs not be performed and releasing workability is excellent. Further, since the sub lock portion  21  is arranged at a back side position in the opening  19  of the housing body  12 , hands and interfering objects (external matters) are unlikely to contact the sub lock portion  21  and a situation where the locking of the sub lock portion  21  and the sub lock receiving portion  71  is unintendedly released can be prevented. 
     Further, in the case of this embodiment, the locked state of the sub lock portion  21  to the mating housing  61  can be visually confirmed through the opening  19  from behind the housing  11  (from the back side viewed from the side of the housing  11 ) as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thus, it can be confirmed from behind that the locking of the lock arm  26  and the lock receiving portions  72  and the locking of the sub lock portion  21  and the sub lock receiving portion  71  are established. 
     Further, since the lock receiving portions  72  are provided in a thickness range of the upper wall  65  of the receptacle  62 , it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the receptacle  62  due to the presence of the lock receiving portions  72 . Particularly, since the protrusion  68  is arranged side by side with the respective mating terminals  80  in the upper stage in the width direction in the receptacle  62 , it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the receptacle  62  in the height direction due to the presence of the protrusion  68  and, consequently, the lock receiving portions  72 . 
     Other Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. 
     Although the sub lock portion is shaped to be deflectable and deformable in the case of the above embodiment, a sub lock portion may be shaped not to be deflected or deformed according to another embodiment. If the sub lock portion is shaped not to be deflected or deformed, a sub lock receiving portion may be shaped to be deflectable and deformable. 
     Although the sub lock receiving portion is structured to be able to avoid interference with the sub lock projection in the process of connecting the housing and the mating housing in the case of the above embodiment, a sub lock receiving portion may be structured to interfere with a sub lock projection in the process of connecting a housing and a mating housing according to another embodiment. 
     Although the releasing portion contacts the sub lock portion to release the locking of the sub lock portion and the sub lock receiving portion in the case of the above embodiment, a releasing portion may contact a sub lock receiving portion to release the locking of a sub lock portion and the sub lock receiving portion according to another embodiment. 
     Although the cam surface is provided only on the sub lock portion in the case of the above embodiment, cam surfaces may be provided on both a releasing portion and a sub lock portion or a cam surface may be provided only on a releasing portion according to another embodiment. 
     Although the lock receiving portion is provided to penetrate through the peripheral wall (upper wall) of the receptacle in the thickness direction in the case of the above embodiment, a lock receiving portion may be shaped into a bottomed recess recessed in the inner surface of a peripheral wall (upper wall) of a receptacle according to another embodiment. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.