Patent Publication Number: US-2022231456-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-007867, filed on Jan. 21, 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. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2011-034843 includes a housing and a lever rotatably supported on the housing. The housing is connected to a mating connector as the lever is rotated. The housing includes a lock protrusion. The lever includes a deflectable and deformable lever lock portion. The lever lock portion is locked to the lock protrusion, whereby the housing is held in a state connected to the mating connector. A lever having such a lock is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2009-117045 and International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2014/115363. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the case of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2011-034843, since the lever lock portion is locked only to the lock protrusion with the housing connected to the mating connector, a load is concentrated on the lock protrusion, which is not preferable. Thus, the lock protrusion needs to have strength to resist a load. If there is a request to enhance a holding force by the lever, the size (thickness or width) of the lock protrusion needs to be increased. However, if the size of the lock protrusion is increased, it affects a peripheral structure of the lock protrusion and the housing may be enlarged. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector capable of enhancing a holding force by a lever. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a first housing, a second housing connectable to the first housing, and a lever rotatably supported on the first housing, wherein the lever includes a lever lock portion for holding the first and second housings in a connected state, the first housing includes a first locking portion and the second housing has a second locking portion, and the first and second locking portions are arranged side by side with each other to constitute an integrated locking portion and arranged to be lockable to the lever lock portion with the first and second housings connected. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of enhancing a holding force by a lever. 
     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 back view viewed from the side of a first housing showing a state where the first housing and a second housing are held in a connected state in a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         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 an enlarged section of a part where a lever lock portion is arranged to be lockable to a locking portion composed of a first locking portion and a second locking portion in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged section of a part where a cam pin is arranged in a cam groove. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a state where a lever body portion is accommodated in an accommodation space of the first housing. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the second housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the first housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of a lever. 
         FIG. 10  is a back view of the lever. 
     
    
    
     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 first housing, a second housing connectable to the first housing, and a lever rotatably supported on the first housing, wherein the lever includes a lever lock portion for holding the first and second housings in a connected state, the first housing includes a first locking portion and the second housing has a second locking portion, and the first and second locking portions are arranged side by side with each other to constitute an integrated locking portion and arranged to be lockable to the lever lock portion with the first and second housings connected. 
     According to the above configuration, a load is dispersed to each of the first and second locking portions by the lever lock portion being locked to the locking portion. Thus, the size of only the first locking portion or only the second locking portion needs not be changed to a larger size for the load from the lever lock portion. As a result, the enlargement of the first or second housing can be suppressed and, moreover, a holding force by the lever can be enhanced. Note that “arranged side by side with each other to constitute an integrated locking portion” means that the first and second locking portions are arranged side by side with each other, thereby being shaped to be integrated as the “locking portion,” and the “locking portion” integrally receives the load from the lever lock portion. 
     (2) Preferably, the lever lock portion includes a lock body portion, the second locking portion has a locking surface facing the lock body portion and a second facing surface located on a side opposite to the locking surface, the first locking portion has a first facing surface facing the second facing surface, and the lock body portion, the locking surface, the second facing surface and the first facing surface are arranged side by side on a straight line along a connecting direction with the first and second housings connected. 
     According to the above configuration, the load from the lock body portion is efficiently dispersed to the second and first locking portions by way of the locking surface, the second facing surface and the first facing surface. 
     (3) The second and first facing surfaces may be arranged to contact each other along a direction intersecting the connecting direction. 
     According to the above configuration, the load from the lock body portion is more efficiently dispersed to the second and first locking portions by way of a contact region of the second and first facing surfaces. 
     (4) The lever may include a plate-like lever body portion having the lever lock portion, the first housing may include a housing body, a covering wall and an accommodation space formed between the housing body and the covering wall, the first locking portion may project into the accommodation space from the covering wall, a projecting amount of the lever body portion from an opening of the accommodation space may be reduced by rotation of the lever, and the lever body portion may be accommodated in the accommodation space and the first locking portion may be arranged to face the lock body portion from the opening side with the first and second housings connected. 
     According to the above configuration, the first locking portion contacts the lock body portion with the lever body portion accommodated in the accommodation space, whereby the lever body portion is restricted from rotating in a direction to project from the opening of the accommodation space. Thus, in a state before the first and second housings are connected, the lever body portion can be accommodated into the accommodation space and the lever and the first housing can be transported in a compact form. 
     (5) The first locking portion may have a guiding surface inclined to approach the first facing surface as being separated from the covering wall on a side opposite to the first facing surface. 
     According to the above configuration, after sliding along the guiding surface, the lock body portion can smoothly enter the accommodation space. 
     Details of Embodiment 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 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. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a connector according to an embodiment is composed of a female connector  10  and a male connector  70 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the male connector  70  includes a second housing  71  and second terminals  90 . The female connector  10  includes a first housing  11 , a retainer  20 , first terminals  60  and a lever  40 . 
     The first terminals  60  are accommodated into the first housing  11 . The second terminals  90  are mounted into the second housing  71 . The lever  40  is rotatably supported on the first housing  11 . The first and second housings  11 ,  71  are connected to each other by the rotation of the lever  40 . Note that, in the following description, surface sides of the first and second housings  11 ,  71  facing each other when connection is started are referred to as front sides concerning a front-rear direction. A vertical direction is based on figures except  FIGS. 2, 6 and 9 . A lateral direction is based on figures except  FIGS. 3 to 5 . These direction references do not necessarily coincide with directions during actual use. 
     (Second Housing) 
     The second housing  71  is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a receptacle  72  in the form of a rectangular tube long in the lateral direction. The receptacle  72  is shaped to project forward from the outer edge of a back wall  73 . The back wall  73  is provided with a plurality of tab mounting holes  74  penetrating therethrough. The respective tab mounting holes  74  are arranged in a plurality of rows in the vertical direction and a plurality of columns in the lateral direction in the back wall  73 . 
     The second housing  71  includes a cam pin  76  projecting downward from a laterally central side of an upper wall  75  of the receptacle  72 . The cam pin  76  has a cylindrical shape and includes a base end portion  77  located on a base end side and a tip portion  78  located on a tip side and having a larger diameter than the base end portion  77 . A vertical dimension of the tip portion  78  is larger than that of the base end portion  77 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the vertical dimension of the base end portion  77  corresponds to a vertical dimension (plate thickness) of a later-described covering wall  13 , and that of the tip portion  78  corresponds to a vertical dimension (depth) of a later-described cam groove  46 . The upper surface of the tip portion  78  serves as a radially arranged flange surface  79 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the second housing  71  includes a rib-like extending portion  80  extending in the front-rear direction on the inner side of one lateral side (left side of  FIG. 7 ) of the upper wall  75  of the receptacle  72 . The extending portion  80  has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Further, the second housing  71  includes a second locking portion  81  integrally coupled to the front end of the extending portion  80  and projecting downward. The second locking portion  81  is arranged to be retracted rearward from the front end of the upper wall  75  of the receptacle  72 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear surface of the second locking portion  81  serves as a locking surface  82  inclined rearward toward a lower side. The front surface of the second locking portion  81  serves as a second facing surface  83  arranged along the vertical direction. The lower surface of the second locking portion  81  is arranged along the front-rear direction. The inner surface of the upper wall  75  of the receptacle  72  has a covering surface  84  between the front end of the upper wall  75  and the second facing surface  83 . The covering surface  84  is continuous in the front-rear direction via a step. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the second housing  71  includes a rib-like releasing portion  85  extending in the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the other lateral side (right side of  FIG. 7 ) of the upper wall  75  of the receptacle  72 . 
     (Second Terminals) 
     The second terminal  90  is made of conductive metal and, as shown in  FIG. 3 , includes a tab  91  extending in the front-rear direction. The tab  91  is mounted through the tab mounting hole  74  of the back wall  73  of the second housing  71 . A rear end part of the second terminal  90  is exposed rearward from the back wall  73  and connected to an unillustrated circuit board by soldering. 
     (First Housing) 
     The first housing  11  is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , fit into the receptacle  72 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first housing  11  includes a housing body  12  in the form of a rectangular block long in the lateral direction, the covering wall  13  arranged above the housing body  12  and a pair of side portions  14  linking both left and right end parts of the housing body  12  and the covering wall  13 . Further, the first housing  11  includes a front wall  15  linking front end parts of the housing body  12 , the covering wall  13  and the respective side portions  14 . In the first housing  11 , an accommodation space  16  open rearward is defined among the housing body  12 , the covering wall  13 , the respective side portions  14  and the front wall  15 . When the first housing  11  is viewed from behind, the accommodation space  16  has an opening shaped to be long in the lateral direction. 
     The housing body  12  includes a plurality of cavities  17  at positions corresponding to the respective tab mounting hole  74 . The housing body  12  includes deflectable and deformable locking lances  18  projecting forward from inner walls of the respective cavities  17 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the housing body  12  includes a retainer mounting hole  19 . The retainer mounting hole  19  is open in the lower surface of the housing body  12  and communicates with the respective cavities  17  in the housing body  12 . The retainer  20  is inserted into the retainer mounting hole  19  from below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first housing  11  includes a support shaft  21  projecting into the accommodation space  16  from a laterally central side of the upper surface of the housing body  12 . The support shaft  21  has a cylindrical shape and is also provided on the lower surface of the housing body  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first housing  11  includes a retracted portion  22  shaped to be recessed forward on one lateral side (right side of  FIG. 6 ) of the rear end of the covering wall  13 . A ridge portion  23  extending in the lateral direction including the retracted portion  22  is provided on the rear end of the covering wall  13 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a height of the ridge portion  23  is slightly lower on the side of the retracted portion  22 . The retracted portion  22  has a guiding surface  24  inclined toward the inside of the accommodation space  16  below the ridge portion  23 . 
     Further, the first housing  11  includes a first locking portion  25  projecting into the accommodation space  16  from the covering wall  13 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first locking portion  25  is in the form of a claw connected to the guiding surface  24  of the retracted portion  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the front surface of the first locking portion  25  serves as a first facing surface  27  arranged along the vertical direction. The first facing surface  27  is in surface contact with the second facing surface  83  along the vertical direction. A lateral width of the first facing surface  27  is equal to that of a later-described second locking portion introducing hole  31  and, as shown in  FIG. 2 , somewhat larger than that of the second facing surface  83  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear surface of the first locking portion  25  has a guiding surface  26  inclined toward the inside of the accommodation space  16 . Specifically, the guiding surface  26  is inclined in a tapered manner to approach the first facing surface  27  toward a lower side in a direction away from the covering wall  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first housing  11  includes a cam pin introducing hole  28  on a laterally central side of the front wall  15  and includes a releasing portion introducing hole  29  on the other lateral side (left side of  FIG. 2 ) of the front wall  15 . Both the cam pin introducing hole  28  and the releasing portion introducing hole  29  penetrate through the front wall  15  in the front-rear direction. Further, the first housing  11  includes a partial lock receiving portion  30  projecting into the accommodation space  16  between the releasing portion introducing hole  29  and the cam pin introducing hole  28  in the front wall  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cam pin introducing hole  28  and the releasing portion introducing hole  29  are shaped into grooves extending in the front-rear direction in the covering wall  13 . Further, a second locking portion introducing hole  31  in the form of a groove extending in the front-rear direction is also provided on one lateral side (right side of  FIG. 6 ) of the covering wall  13 . The front end of the second locking portion introducing hole  31  is open in the front wall  15 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear end of the second locking portion introducing hole  31  serves as an end surface continuous with the first facing surface  27  without any step. 
     (First Terminals) 
     The first terminal  60  is made of conductive metal and includes, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a connecting portion  61  in the form of a rectangular tube and a barrel portion  62  in the form of an open barrel connected behind the connecting portion  61 . The tab  91  is inserted into the connecting portion  61  for connection. The barrel portion  62  is connected to an end part of a wire  100 . The first terminal  60  is inserted into the cavity  17  of the housing body  12  from behind. In a state inserted in the cavity  17 , the first terminal  60  is primarily locked by the locking lance  18  and, subsequently, secondarily locked by the retainer  20 . 
     (Lever) 
     The lever  40  is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in  FIG. 10 , gate-shaped as a whole. The lever  40  includes a plate-like lever body portion  41  arranged along the lateral direction, a plate-like assisting portion  42  arranged in parallel to the lever body portion  41  below the lever body portion  41  and a coupling portion  43  extending in the vertical direction and coupling one lateral ends (left ends of  FIG. 10 ) of the lever body portion  41  and the assisting portion  42 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the lever body portion  41  is accommodated in the accommodation space  16 . The assisting portion  42  is arranged along the lower surface of the housing body  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the lever body portion  41  and the assisting portion  42  are respectively provided with shaft holes  44  (only the shaft hole  44  of the lever body portion  41  is shown in  FIG. 9 ). The corresponding support shafts  21  are fit into the respective shaft holes  44 . The lever  40  is rotated between a partial locking position and a full locking position about the support shafts  21  fit in the respective shaft holes  44 . A worker can rotate the lever  40  while pinching the coupling portion  43 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the lever body portion  41  includes a lever lock portion  45  on one lateral side (right side of  FIG. 9 ) and the cam groove  46 , a partial locking portion  47  and the upper shaft hole  44  on the other lateral side (left side of  FIG. 9 ). 
     The cam groove  46  is a bottomed groove recessed in one surface (upper surface) of the lever body portion  41  and one end thereof in an extending direction is open in the outer peripheral edge of the lever body portion  41 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the cam groove  46  has a recessed cross-section and is defined by a pair of side surfaces  48  arranged along the vertical direction and a bottom surface  49  connected to the lower ends of the both side surfaces  48  and arranged along the lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the partial locking portion  47  is shaped to extend rearward from the vicinity of the cam groove  46  on the outer peripheral edge of the lever body portion  41 . The partial locking portion  47  includes a projection  50  bent toward the other side on a tip part. 
     The lever lock portion  45  is deflectably and deformably arranged between a pair of cuts formed on both left and right sides. The lever lock portion  45  is in the form of a plate extending in the front-rear direction from a front end to a rear end while having a constant width. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a deflection fulcrum portion  51  is provided on a front end side of the lever lock portion  45 . An unlocking portion  52  is provided on a rear end side of the lever lock portion  45 . 
     The lever lock portion  45  includes a lock body portion  53  between the deflection fulcrum portion  51  and the unlocking portion  52 . The lock body portion  53  projects upward from a central side in the front-rear direction of the lever lock portion  45  and is, as shown in  FIG. 9 , in the form of a rib extending in the lateral direction. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the front surface of the lock body portion  53  serves as a guide surface  54  inclined rearward in a curved manner toward an upper side. The rear surface of the lock body portion  53  serves as a lock surface  55  inclined rearward in a tapered manner toward the upper side. 
     The unlocking portion  52  is arranged to be slightly higher than the lock body portion  53 . The lever lock portion  45  includes a lock hole  56  penetrating in the vertical direction between the lock body portion  53  and the unlocking portion  52  and behind the lock body portion  53 . The upper surface of the lever lock portion  45  has a receiving surface  57  arranged along the front-rear direction between the lock body portion  53  and the lock hole  56 . Further, the lever lock portion  45  includes a pair of linking portions  58  linking both left and right end parts of the unlocking portion  52  and the lever lock portion  45  on both left and right sides of the lock hole  56  (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the lever body portion  41  includes a protecting portion  59  surrounding the outer periphery of the unlocking portion  52 . The protecting portion  59  is arranged on one lateral side (left side of  FIG. 10 ) of a rear end part of the lever body portion  41 . The protecting portion  59  includes a bridge part covering the unlocking portion  52  from above. 
     (Connection Structure of Connector) 
     By inserting the lever body portion  41  into the accommodation space  16  and locking the partial locking portion  47  to the projection  50  of the partial lock receiving portion  30 , the lever  40  is held at the partial locking position with respect to the first housing  41 . At the partial locking position, the entrance of the cam groove  46  is arranged to face forward while communicating with the cam pin introducing hole  28 . Further, at the partial locking position, the protecting portion  59  of the lever body portion  41  is arranged to be separated rearward from an opening of the accommodation space  16 . 
     When the female connector  10  is transported, the lever  40  is arranged at the full locking position with respect to the first housing  11 . In the process of moving the lever  40  toward the full locking position, a projecting amount of the lever body portion  41  from the opening of the accommodation space  16  is gradually reduced. Further, the guide surface  54  of the lock body portion  53  slides on the guiding surface  26  of the first locking portion  25  and the lever lock portion  45  is deflected and deformed downward with the deflection fulcrum portion  51  as a fulcrum. When the lever  40  reaches the full locking position, the lever lock portion  45  resiliently returns and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the lock body portion  53  is arranged in front of the first locking portion  25 . The first locking portion  25  is arranged on the opening side, which is a rear end side, of the accommodation space  16 , and arranged to face the lock body portion  53  from the opening side of the accommodation space  16 . 
     If the lever  40  is going to be rotated in a return direction from the full locking position to the partial locking position, the lock surface  55  of the lock body portion  53  contacts the first facing surface  27  of the first locking portion  25  to hinder any further rotation of the lever  40 . Thus, with the lever body portion  41  accommodated in the accommodation space  16 , the first housing  11  and the lever  40  can be transported in a compact form. 
     When the lever  40  is at the full locking position, the lever body portion  41  is accommodated in the accommodation space  16  except the protecting portion  59  and the unlocking portion  52  arranged on an end part. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the protecting portion  59  is fit in the retracted portion  22  and arranged along the ridge portion  23 . 
     Prior to the connection of the female connector  10  and the male connector  70 , the first terminals  60  are accommodated into the first cavities  17  of the first housing  11  and the lever  40  is arranged at the unillustrated partial locking position with respect to the first housing  11 . Further, the second terminals  90  are mounted into the second housing  71 . In that state, the first housing  11  is fit into the receptacle  72  of the second housing  71 . Then, the cam pin  76  enters the cam pin introducing hole  28  and the entrance of the cam groove  46  and an upper part (extending portion  80 ) of the second locking portion  81  enters the second locking portion introducing hole  31 . Further, the releasing portion  85  enters the releasing portion introducing hole  29  to interfere with the projection  50 . The partial locking portion  47  is pressed by the releasing portion  85 , whereby a locked state to the partial lock receiving portion  30  is released. In this way, the lever  40  becomes rotatable toward the full locking position. 
     If the lever  40  is rotated toward the full locking position, the cam pin  76  slides on the side surface  48  of the cam groove  46  and the connection of the first and second housings  11 ,  71  proceeds. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the tip portion  78  of the cam pin  76  is inserted into the cam groove  46  and the base end portion  77  of the cam pin  76  is inserted into the cam pin introducing hole  28 . The flange surface  79  of the tip portion  78  is arranged to face the lower surface of the covering wall  13  and sandwich the covering wall  13  between the upper wall  75  of the receptacle  72  and the flange surface  79 . By the contact of the flange surface  79  of the tip portion  78  with the lower surface of the covering wall  13 , a displacement of the cam pin  76  in a direction (upward direction of  FIG. 5 ) to come out from the cam groove  46  is restricted. 
     Conventionally, the escape of a cam pin has been prevented by bringing a flange part of the cam pin into contact with a step formed on a side surface of a cam groove. In contrast, in this embodiment, the escape of the cam pin  76  is prevented without forming any step on the side surface  48  of the cam groove  46 . Thus, the structure of the lever  40  can be more simplified than before and, moreover, a mold slide structure for forming a step in the cam groove  46  can be omitted. Therefore, mold cost can be reduced. 
     In the process of moving the lever  40  toward the full locking position, the extending portion  80  is displaced in the second locking portion introducing hole  31 . Further, as described above, the guide surface  54  of the lock body portion  53  slides on the guiding surface  26  of the first locking portion  25  and the lever lock portion  45  is guided into the accommodation space  16 . With the lock body portion  53  inserted in the accommodation space  16 , the lower end of the second locking portion  81  slides on the guide surface  54  of the lock body portion  53  and the lever lock portion  45  is deflected and deformed downward with the deflection fulcrum portion  51  as a fulcrum. 
     When the lever  40  reaches the full locking position, the lever lock portion  45  resiliently returns and, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the lock body portion  53 , the second locking portion  81  and the first locking portion  25  are arranged side by side on a straight line L 1  along the front-rear direction. The first locking portion  25  is fit into an L-shaped space formed between the second facing surface  83  and the covering surface  84 . 
     Specifically, the locking surface  82  of the second locking portion  81  is arranged behind the lock surface  55  of the lock body portion  53  to face the lock surface  55 . The lower surface of the second locking portion  81  is arranged to contact the receiving surface  57  of the lever lock portion  45 . The covering surface  84  of the upper wall  75  of the receptacle  72  is arranged to contact the upper surface of the covering wall  13 . Further, the second facing surface  83  of the second locking portion  81  and the first facing surface  27  of the first locking portion  25  are arranged to contact each other along the vertical direction. More specifically, the second facing surface  83  of the second locking portion  81  is arranged to contact the first facing surface  27  of the first locking portion  25  over an entire height. The respective lower ends of the first and second facing surfaces  27 ,  83  are arranged to be continuous with each other at the same height. In this way, the first and the second locking portions  25 ,  81  are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction while contacting each other, thereby forming a locking portion  200  in which the first and second locking portions  25 ,  81  are integrally united. 
     If the first housing  11  or the wires  100  connected to the first terminals  60  is/are pulled rearward (rearward when viewed from the side of the first housing  11 ), the first housing  11  moves in a direction away from the second housing  71  and the lock surface  55  of the lock body portion  53  contacts the locking surface  82  of the second locking portion  81 . Thus, the second locking portion  81  receives a load from the lever lock portion  45 . However, in the case of this embodiment, the load from the lever lock portion  45  is dispersed to each of the first and second locking portions  25 ,  81  constituting the locking portion  200  without concentrating only on the second locking portion  81 . Thus, the load from the lever lock portion  45  is stably received by the locking portion  200  with the lock surface  55  of the lock body portion  53  held in contact with the locking surface  82  of the second locking portion  81 . In this way, the lever  40  reaches the full locking position, whereby the first and second housings  11 ,  71  are held in the connected state. Further, when the lever  40  reaches the full locking position, the first and second terminals  60 ,  90  are properly connected. 
     In separating the first and second housings  11 ,  71 , the unlocking portion  52  is pushed downward, a locked state of the lock body portion  53  and the second locking portion  81  is released by pulling down the lever lock portion  45  and, in that state, the first and second housings  11 ,  71  may be pulled apart from each other. 
     As described above, according to this embodiment, the lever lock portion  45  is locked to the locking portion  200 , whereby a load is dispersed to each of the first and second locking portions  25 ,  81 . Thus, the size of the first or second locking portion  25 ,  81  needs not be changed to a larger size for the load from the lever lock portion  45 . As a result, the enlargement of the first or second housing  11 ,  71  can be suppressed and, moreover, a holding force by the lever  40  can be enhanced. 
     Further, since the lock body portion  53 , the locking surface  83 , the second facing surface  83  and the first facing surface  27  are arranged side by side on the straight line L 1  shown in  FIG. 4  along the front-rear direction, a load from the lock body portion  53  is efficiently dispersed to the second and first locking portions  81 ,  25  by way of the locking surface  82 , the second facing surface  83  and the first facing surface  27  when a rearward pulling force is applied to the first housing  11 . 
     Further, since the second and first facing surfaces  83 ,  27  contact each other along the vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, a rearward load from the lock body portion  53  is more efficiently dispersed to the second and first locking portions  81 ,  25  via a contact region of the second and first facing surfaces  83 ,  27 . 
     Further, since the first locking portion  25  is arranged to face and be lockable to the lock body portion  53  from the opening side of the accommodation space  16 , the lever body portion  41  is restricted from rotating in a direction to project from the opening of the accommodation space  16 . As a result, the lever  40  and the first housing  11  can be transported in a compact form. 
     Furthermore, since the first locking portion  25  is provided with the tapering guiding surface  26 , the lock body portion  53  can slide along the guiding surface  26  and smoothly enter the accommodation space  16  in the process of rotating the lever  40  to the full locking position. 
     Other Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. 
     Although the first housing supporting the lever is a housing constituting the female connector in the case of the above embodiment, a first housing supporting a lever may be a housing constituting a male connector according to another embodiment. 
     Although the first and second locking portions are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, which is a connecting direction, in the case of the above embodiment, first and second locking portions may be arranged side by side in a lateral direction, which is a direction orthogonal to a connecting direction, according to another embodiment. If the first and second locking portions are arranged side by side in the lateral direction, the both first and second locking portions can have locking surfaces to be locked to a lock body portion. 
     Although the first facing surface of the first locking portion and the second facing surface of the second locking portion are arranged to come into surface contact with each other in the case of the above embodiment, a first facing surface of a first locking portion and a second facing surface of a second locking portion may be arranged to contact while having a clearance therebetween according to another embodiment. 
     Although the guiding surface of the first locking portion is inclined in a tapered manner in the case of the above embodiment, a guiding surface of a first locking portion may be inclined in a curved manner 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.