Patent Publication Number: US-2022231459-A1

Title: Electrical connector, electrical connector assembly and electronic device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to JP Application No. 2021-006863, filed 2021 Jan. 20, the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connectors. 
     An electrical connector is generally provided with a male connector retaining a male terminal and a female connector configured to mate with the male connector and retaining a female terminal connected electrically to the male terminal. Hereinafter, the electrical connector may be referred to simply as a connector. In order to keep the male connector and the female connector in a mated state and prevent them from unmating from each other, a member called a lock arm is provided, for example to the female connector, and a male-side protrusion engaged with the lock arm is provided to the male connector. 
     When the male connector and the female connector are mated together, a female-side protrusion provided to the lock arm climbs over the male-side protrusion of the male connector. The lock arm has elasticity, and therefore, when the female-side protrusion climbs over the male-side protrusion and they reach an engaged state, the female-side protrusion hits a predetermined face of a housing of the male connector, so that a hitting sound occurs. This hitting sound can be evidence that the male connector and the female connector have been properly mated together, and is hence also called a mating sound. This is because engaging portions of the male-side protrusion and the female-side protrusion are often difficult to confirm visually from outside the connectors. Therefore, producing a loud hitting sound has been proposed, for example as in Japanese Patent JP2001-006816A (PTL1) and Japanese Patent JP2010-165573A (PTL 2). 
     PTL 1 proposes forming a void in a region immediately below a wall face on which is formed the male-side protrusion (catching protruding portion) of the male connector. PTL 1 states that when the female-side protrusion (lock claw) of the lock arm climbs over the male-side protrusion and hits the wall face, a mating sound due to the hit echoes through the void, and thereby the mating sound can be made louder. 
     In PTL 2, a space is provided behind a wall face hit by the lock arm returning from deflection deformation. PTL 2 states that the mating sound can be made louder by making the hitting sound resonate through the space. 
     Unfortunately, the proposal of PTL 1 has the possibility that the mating sound may be muffled because an opening portion of the space is closed by the female connector at the time of mating. Similarly, the proposal of PTL 2 has the possibility that the sound may be muffled because, when mating the male connector and the female connector together, an operator often performs the task with a finger placed in the vicinity of a lock-arm releasing portion, and an opening portion of the space may be closed by the finger. This may cause the operator to fail to hear the mating sound. 
     A need remains for an electrical connector that makes it unlikely that an operator who performs the mating task will fail to hear the mating sound. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment, an electrical connector is provided with a housing retaining a plurality of terminals that is mated with a mating electrical connector along a mating direction. The housing is provided with a receiving region receiving the mating electrical connector, a sound path adjacent to the receiving region, and a partition wall dividing the receiving region and the sound path from each other. Along its mating direction, the sound path (channel) is provided with an opened end on a first end and a closed end on a second end. The partition wall is preferably provided with a hitting region hit by an element of the mating electrical connector according to proper mating with the mating electrical connector, and the sound path includes the hitting region, as viewed from above. The sound channel may have an opening area that increases from the second end toward the first end. In addition, the sound path may be continuous with both sides in a width direction of the receiving region. Further, the sound path may have a horn shape. 
     In an embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided with the electrical connector and a mating electrical connector that are mated together. 
     In an embodiment, an electronic device is provided with an electrical connector provided with a housing retaining a plurality of terminals that is mated with a mating electrical connector, and an enclosure accommodating the electrical connector with a mating frontage of the electrical connector exposed outside. 
     By providing the sound path therein, and positioning the opened end thereof outside the enclosure, the mating sound will not be muffled inside the enclosure and can be emitted outside the enclosure. Therefore, it is unlikely that an operator who performs mating of the electrical connectors will fail to hear the mating sound. 
     In an embodiment, an electrical connector is provided including a housing retaining a plurality of terminals. The housing is mated with a mating electrical connector along a mating direction. The housing includes a receiving region receiving the mating electrical connector, a sound path adjacent to the receiving region, and a partition wall dividing the receiving region and the sound path from each other. The sound path includes an open end on a first end and a closed end on a second end along the mating direction. 
     In an embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided including a mating electrical connector and an electrical connector mutually mated with the mating electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a housing retaining a plurality of terminals, the housing including a receiving region receiving the mating electrical connector, a sound path adjacent to the receiving region, and a partition wall dividing the receiving region and the sound path from each other. The sound path includes an open end on a first end and a closed end on a second end along the mating direction. 
     In an embodiment, an electronic device is provided including an electrical connector including a housing retaining a plurality of terminals. The housing is mated with a mating electrical connector. The housing includes a receiving region receiving the mating electrical connector, a sound path adjacent to the receiving region, and a partition wall dividing the receiving region and the sound path from each other. The sound path includes an open end on a first end and a closed end on a second end along the mating direction. The electronic device includes an enclosure accommodating the electrical connector with a mating frontage of the electrical connector exposed outside. The open end is exposed outside together with the mating frontage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1( a )  is an isometric view of an electrical connector assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 1( b )  is an isometric view showing a male connector constituting one element of the electrical connector assembly. 
         FIG. 2( a )  is a side view of a first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2( b )  is a cross sectional view of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment taken along a line IIb-IIb in the direction of arrows as shown in  FIG. 3( c ) . 
         FIG. 3( a )  is a cross sectional view of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment taken along a line IIIa-IIIa in the direction of arrows as shown in  FIG. 3( c ) . 
         FIG. 3( b )  is a bottom view of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3( c )  is a front view of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4( a )  is a side view of a second connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4( b )  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the second connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment corresponding to  FIG. 2( b ) . 
         FIG. 5( a )  is a side view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment at a first stage of mating. 
         FIG. 5( b )  is a side view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment at a second stage of mating. 
         FIG. 5( c )  is a side view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment at a third stage of mating. 
         FIG. 6( a )  is a cross sectional view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment at a first stage of mating. 
         FIG. 6( b )  is a cross sectional view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment at a second stage of mating. 
         FIG. 6( c )  is a cross sectional view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment at a third stage of mating. 
         FIG. 7( a )  is a diagram showing a modification of a sound path of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, as viewed from above. 
         FIG. 7( b )  is a diagram showing a modification of a sound path of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, as viewed from above. 
         FIG. 7( c )  is a diagram showing a modification of a sound path of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, as viewed from above. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a modification of a sound path of the first connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, as viewed from front. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1( a )  is an isometric view of an electrical connector assembly  1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment including a first electrical connector  10  and a second electrical connector  40  mated with the first electrical connector  10 .  FIG. 1( b )  is an isometric view showing a male connector constituting the first electrical connector  10  of the electrical connector assembly  1 . 
     The electrical connector assembly  1  is provided with a first electrical connector  10  and a second electrical connector  40  mated with the first electrical connector  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1( a ) . In the present embodiment, the first electrical connector  10  is equivalent to a male connector retaining a plurality of male first terminals  25 , whereas the second electrical connector  40  is equivalent to a female connector retaining female second terminals connected electrically to the first terminals  25 . 
     It should be noted that in the electrical connector assembly  1 , the first electrical connector  10 , and the second electrical connector  40 , a width direction W, a height direction H, and a longitudinal direction L are defined as shown in  FIGS. 1( a ), 1( b )  and other figures. In addition, a mating direction MD of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  is defined as shown in  FIG. 1( a ) . In addition, in the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40 , their respective mating sides are defined as front, and the opposite sides as rear. In addition, the first electrical connector  10  corresponds to an electrical connector and the second electrical connector  40  corresponds to a mating electrical connector. 
     The electrical connector assembly  1  is accommodated in an enclosure  100  of an electronic device, excluding a portion of the front of the first electrical connector  10 , as shown by way of example in  FIGS. 6( a ), 6( b ), 6( c ) . Therefore, when a mating sound due to hitting by a lock arm  50  accompanying proper mating with the second electrical connector  40  occurs in the first electrical connector  10 , if this mating sound is muffled inside the enclosure  100 , the mating sound is difficult to hear for an operator who performs the task of mating the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  together. However, a sound path  30  conducting the mating sound to the outside of the enclosure  100  is provided in the first electrical connector  10  according to an exemplary embodiment, and therefore the mating sound is easy to hear for the operator. 
     Configurations of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  will be described below, and thereafter the mating sound when the proper mating is made will be mentioned in addition to mating actions of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40 . 
     The first electrical connector  10  is provided with a female first housing  11  formed of an electrically-insulating resin, and the male first terminals  25  formed of, for example a copper-based material, and having a high electrical conductivity, as shown in  FIG. 1( b ) . The materials of the first housing  11  and the first terminals  25  apply to the second electrical connector  40 . 
     In the first housing  11 , the plurality of first terminals  25  are retained in a state of being arranged at a distance from one another, and a hood  13  is also formed to which the second electrical connector  40  is mated. The hood  13  is a rectangular tubular member, and a mating frontage  18  that is an opening thereof is provided. The hood  13  is also provided with a receiving region  19  for receiving the second electrical connector  40 . In the present embodiment, the hood  13  is continuous in the width direction W, but may be divided into two or more by providing a partition wall. 
     The first terminal  25  has a portion extending through the receiving region  19  that is electrically connected to the female terminal of the second electrical connector  40 , and also has a portion led out from the rear of the hood  13  that is connected to a printed wiring board, as shown in  FIGS. 2( a ), 2( b )  and  FIGS. 3( a ), 3( b ) . The first terminal  25  has the rearward led-out portion bent midway at about 90 degrees. The first terminals  25  are positioned in a plurality of columns in the width direction W, and also positioned in a plurality of rows, two rows in the present embodiment, in the height direction H. 
     The hood  13  is provided with an upper wall  14  and a lower wall  15  extending in the width direction W and opposite to each other at a predetermined distance from each other, as shown in  FIG. 2( b ) , and a pair of sidewalls  17 ,  17  connecting both ends in the width direction W of the upper wall  14  and the lower wall  15  together in the height direction H. 
     The hood  13  is also provided with a partition wall  16  partitioning off a space between the upper wall  14  and the lower wall  15  in the height direction H, and the partition wall  16  connects the pair of sidewalls  17 ,  17  together in the width direction W. In the height direction H, the receiving region  19  mentioned above is provided below the partition wall  16 , and the sound path  30  is provided adjacent to the receptable region  19  above the partition wall  16 . That is, the sound path  30  and the receiving region  19  are divided from each other by the partition wall  16 . The details of the sound path  30  will be described later. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the first electrical connector  10  is mated with the second electrical connector  40  in a state of being mounted, for example, on a printed wiring board  200 , as shown in  FIGS. 6( a ), 6( b ), 6( c ) . 
     The hood  13  has a first lock protrusion  21  provided at a front end of and on a lower face of the partition wall  16 , as shown in  FIG. 2( b ) , on which is caught a second lock protrusion  54  of the lock arm  50  of the second electrical connector  40  described later. In the process of mating the second electrical connector  40  with the first electrical connector  10 , the second lock protrusion  54  of the second electrical connector  40  climbs over the first lock protrusion  21  of the first electrical connector  10 , and thereby the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  are prevented from unmating from each other, as shown in  FIG. 6( c ) . It should be noted that in order to unlock the first lock protrusion  21  and the second lock protrusion  24 , an operational end  53  of the lock arm  50  of the second electrical connector  40  is pressed downward in  FIG. 4( b ) . In this state, the second electrical connector  40  is extracted from the first electrical connector  10 , and thereby the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  can be unmated. 
     The hood  13  is provided with a front end side  22  and a rear end side  23  opposite to the front end side  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 2( a ), 2( b ) . Mating of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  is performed by inserting the second electrical connector  40  into the mating frontage  18  disposed in this front end side  22 . 
     Next, the second electrical connector  40  will be described with reference to  FIG. 1( a )  and  FIGS. 4( a ), 4( b ) . 
     The second electrical connector  40  is provided with a second housing  41  and the female terminals, not shown, retained in the second housing  41 . The second housing  41  retains a corresponding number of female second terminals in positions corresponding to the first terminals  25  retained in the first electrical connector  10 . 
     The second housing  41  is provided with a second housing main body  43  retaining the second terminals, a front end wall  44 ( 45 ) located at a front end of the second housing main body  43 , a rear end wall  45 ( 44 ) located at a rear end of the second housing main body  43 , and the lock arm  50  preventing the second electrical connector  40  and the first electrical connector  10  from unmating from each other. 
     The second housing main body  43  has a plurality of terminal accommodating holes  46  formed along the width direction W and the height direction H, as shown in  FIG. 1( a ) . The second terminal, not shown, is inserted into each terminal accommodating hole  46 . The terminal accommodating holes  46  pass through from the front end wall  44  to the rear end wall  45 . 
     When the second electrical connector  40  is mated with the first electrical connector  10 , the rear end wall  45  protrudes more outward in the width direction W and the height direction H than the hood  13 . 
     The lock arm  50  is provided at a middle portion in the width direction W in an upper portion of the second housing main body  43 , as shown in  FIG. 1( a ) . The lock arm  50  has a front end side forming a supported end  51  fixed to the second housing main body  43 , and a rear end side forming the operational end  53 , as shown in  FIG. 4( b ) . The supported end  51  and the operational end  53  are connected by an elastic arm  52 . The lock arm  50  is provided with the second lock protrusion  54  between the supported end  51  and the operational end  53 , and this second lock protrusion  54  is mutually engaged with the first lock protrusion  21  formed on the hood  13 , thereby preventing the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  from unmating from each other in the mated state of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40 . 
     The second housing main body  43  is provided with a cover  47  covering the lock arm  50  from above, as shown in  FIG. 4( b ) . A main object of the cover  47  is to prevent turning-up or misoperation of the lock arm  50 . 
     The cover  47  is provided as a constitutional element of the rear end wall  45  by making a portion of the rear end wall  45  into a clearance passing through the front and rear thereof. 
     Below the cover  47  is the clearance, a front (sic rear) end portion of the lock arm  50  including the operational end  53  passes through this clearance and projects more rearward than the cover  47 , and the lock arm  50  is made swingable on the supported end  51  within this clearance. The cover  47  has a thinner wall thickness in the longitudinal direction L than the remaining rear end wall  45 , thereby ensuring access to the operational end  53  of the lock arm  50 . 
     With reference to Figures  FIG. 1( b ), 2( b ) ,  FIGS. 3( a ), 3( c ) , the electrical connector assembly  1  is provided with the sound path  30  in the first electrical connector  10 . The sound path  30  can make it easy to hear the mating sound occurring when the second electrical connector  40  is mated with the first electrical connector  10 . The sound path  30  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 1( b ) ,  FIG. 2( b ) , and  FIG. 3( a ) . 
     The sound path  30  is composed of a clearance provided between the upper wall  14  and the partition wall  16  of the first housing  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 1( b ) and 2( b ) . The sound path  30  composed of this clearance is provided with an opened end  31  opened outside on the front end side  22 , and a closed end  33  sealed by the first housing  11  so as not to be opened outside on the rear end side  23 . The closed end  33  has an arc-like shape as viewed from above, as shown in  FIG. 3( a ) . Since the sound path  30  is opened at a first end in the mating direction MD and sealed at a second end in the mating direction MD in this manner, the mating sound is conducted to the outside through the opened end  31  of the sound path  30 . 
     Next, the clearance constituting the sound path  30  faces the partition wall  16 , as shown in  FIG. 2( b ) . As described later, when the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  are mated together, once the second lock protrusion  54  of the second electrical connector  40  climbs over the first lock protrusion  21  of the first electrical connector  10 , the second lock protrusion  54  hits the partition wall  16 . The sound path  30  is provided behind the partition wall  16  hit by the second lock protrusion  54 , and, as viewed from above, includes a hitting region HT hit by the second lock protrusion  54 . 
     Next, the sound path  30 , as a preferred form, is so formed as to have an opening area increasing continuously from the rear end side  23  toward the front end side  22 . This form is intended to increase a mating-sound emitting effect as the sound path  30 , and imitates a so-called horn. As applied to a horn speaker, a horn is a mechanism that encloses an emitted sound to control its directivity, and concentrates the energy to give the sound a strong permeability. That is, when the second lock protrusion  54  hits the partition wall  16 , air contained in the sound path  30  is given a velocity, and an acoustic wave is transmitted in almost the same phase on any plane parallel with the mating direction MD of the sound path  30  constituting the horn, and a sound is emitted at the opened end  31  in a state close to a plane wave. Therefore, the directivity is strong in a frequency range where the sound path  30  acts as a horn, and the efficiency increases accordingly. 
     The sound path  30  is provided with a lower face  35  that is an upper face of the partition wall  16 , an upper face  36  opposite to the lower face  35 , and a pair of sidewalls  37 ,  37  connecting the lower face  35  and the upper face  36  together on both sides in the width direction W, as shown in  FIG. 2( b ) . A distance between the lower face  35  and the upper face  36  widens continuously from the rear end side  23  toward the front end side  22 , as shown in  FIG. 2( b ) , and a distance between the pair of sidewalls  37 ,  37  widens continuously, as shown in  FIG. 3( c ) . That is, the sound path  30  of the present embodiment has a space widening continuously both in the width direction W and in the height directions H, and has an opening area increasing continuously from the closed end  33  toward the opened end  31 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 ( a ), 5( b ), 5( c ) ,  FIGS. 6( a ), 6( b ), 6( c ) , mating actions of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  will be described. This description will be made in the order of a first step of aligning the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  with each other, a second step of inserting the second electrical connector  40  into the receiving region  19  of the first electrical connector  10 , and a third step of completing mating of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  and achieving their proper mating. 
     It should be noted that, as shown in  FIGS. 6( a ), 6( b ), 6( c ) , the first electrical connector  10  is accommodated in the enclosure  100 , in a state of being mounted on the printed wiring board  200 . It is provided, however, that a portion of the front of the first electrical connector  10  is exposed outside the enclosure  100 . It should be noted that the enclosure  100  and the printed wiring board  200  are not shown in  FIGS. 5( a ), 5( b ), 5( c ) . 
     In order to mate the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  together, the front side of the second electrical connector  40  is aligned with the mating frontage  18  continuous with the receiving region  19  of the first electrical connector  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 5( a ) and 6( a ) . The alignment is performed in the width direction W and the height direction H. 
     After the alignment is completed, the second electrical connector  40  is pressed into the depth of the receiving region  19  of the first electrical connector  10 . Thereupon, the second electrical connector  40  proceeds to a position where the second lock protrusion  54  of the second electrical connector  40  collides with the first lock protrusion  21  of the first electrical connector  10 , as shown in  FIG. 5( b ) ,  FIG. 6( b ) . Upon feeling this collision, an operator who performs the mating of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  increases the force of pressing the second connector  40  thereinto. This is for the second lock protrusion  54  to climb over the first lock protrusion  21 . 
     After the second lock protrusion  54  collides with the first lock protrusion  21 , the second electrical connector  40  is further pressed thereinto. Thereupon, the elastic arm  52  of the lock arm  50  is deflected downward, the second lock protrusion  54  climbs over the first lock protrusion  21 , and the second lock protrusion  54  and the first lock protrusion  21  reach an engaged state, so that the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  are prevented from unmating. Immediately after the second lock protrusion  54  climbs over the first lock protrusion  21 , the second lock protrusion  54  hits the partition wall  16 . This hit is based on an elastic energy by which the elastic arm  52  deflected downward returns to its original linear state, and causes the partition wall  16  to vibrate. A sound produced by this vibration is the mating sound indicating that the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  are properly mated together. Here, the fact that members involved in the prevention of unmating of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40 , which are the second lock protrusion  54  and the first lock protrusion  21  in the present embodiment, are put into the engaged state means that the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  are properly mated together. 
     As described above, when the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  are properly mated together, the mating sound occurs due to hitting of the partition wall  16  by the second lock protrusion  54 . The first electrical connector  10  is provided with the sound path  30  on the upper side of the partition wall  16 . Therefore, the mating sound travels through the sound path  30  and is emitted outside from the opened end  31 . Since the opened end  31  is positioned outside the enclosure  100 , the mating sound is emitted from the opened end  31 , so that it is unlikely that the operator will fail to hear the mating sound. 
     As described above, according to the electrical connector assembly  1 , the sound path  30  is provided in the first electrical connector  10 , and the sound path  30  has the opened end  31  thereof positioned outside the enclosure  100 . Therefore, the mating sound is not muffled inside the enclosure  100 , so that it is unlikely that an operator who performs the mating of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  will fail to hear the mating sound emitted outside from the opened end  31 . 
     Moreover, since the sound path  30  can be configured integrally with the first housing  11 , the same task of mating the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  together as a conventional one will suffice, and in addition the manufacturing cost of the first electrical connector  10  is only slightly increased. 
     The sound path  30  according to the present embodiment has a horn shape. Therefore, the acoustic pressure of the mating sound emitted from the opened end  31  increases, so that it is more unlikely that an operator who performs the mating of the first electrical connector  10  and the second electrical connector  40  will fail to hear the mating sound emitted outside from the opened end  31 . 
     Modifications of the sound path  30  may be provided in alternative embodiments. A choice of which configuration to adopt may be made, or such a configuration may be appropriately changed to another configuration, without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.  FIGS. 7( a ), 7( b ), 7( c )  illustrate exemplary modifications of the sound path  30  as viewed from above. 
     The sound path  30  described above has the closed end  33  provided in a position near the rear end side  23 , and enables the sound path  30  to fulfill its function even if the closed end  33  is closer to the opened end  31 , as long as the sound path  30 , as viewed from above, includes the hitting region HT where the second lock protrusion  54  hits the partition wall  16 , as shown in  FIG. 7( a ) . 
     Next, the sidewalls  37 ,  37  in the width direction W of the sound path  30  are curved, and the connector  10  allows them to be composed of a straight line, as shown in  FIG. 7( b ) . 
     In addition, the sound path  30  has a dimension in the width direction W increasing from the rear end side  23  toward the front end side  22 , but the dimension in the width direction W may also be equalized from the rear end side  23  toward the front end side  22 , as shown in  FIG. 7( c ) . 
       FIG. 8  shows a modification of the sound path  30  as viewed from front. Next, the sound path  30  is provided only on the side facing the partition wall  16  in the above embodiments, and the connector  10  allows the sound path  30  to be extendedly provided so as to be continuous with both sides in the width direction W of the receiving region  19 , following the sidewalls  17 ,  17  of the first housing  11 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     It is provided hereinabove that the second lock protrusion  54  of the lock arm  50  hits the partition wall  16 . In other various embodiments, the mating sound may be produced by hitting of the partition wall  16  by another element of the second electrical connector  40 . 
     In addition, an example is shown hereinabove where the second lock protrusion  54  that is a hitting member is provided to the second electrical connector  40 . In other various embodiments, a hitting member is provided to the first electrical connector  10 , and an element corresponding to the sound path  30  to the second electrical connector  40 . 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.