Patent Publication Number: US-9425549-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-247569, filed on Dec. 8, 2014, the entire content of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a connector. 
     2. Related Art 
     In the related art, a connector including a housing, a locking arm, and locking arm protective walls, has been known. The housing is capable of fitting with a mating housing. The locking arm is swingably disposed on the housing and has a locking portion capable of locking with a locked portion of the mating housing. The locking arm protective walls are disposed on the housing and are arranged at least on both sides in a width direction of the locking arm (refer to JPH 10-199621 A). 
     In the connector, the locked portion is disposed so as to protrude on each of the sides in the width direction of the locking arm. A warp-preventing piece that locks with the locked portion, is arranged on an upper surface of each of the locking arm protective walls. Engaging the locked portion with the warp-preventing piece regulates displacement in a warp direction that is one side of a swinging direction of the locking arm when the locking arm is restored. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in the connector described in the above JPH 10-199621 A, the locked portion is disposed so as to protrude from each of the sides in the width direction of the locking arm. Thus, there is a need for securing an arrangement space for arranging the locked portion between the locking arm protective walls arranged on both the sides in the width direction of the locking arm. Therefore, the locking arm protective walls are arranged so as to extend in the width direction and the connector tends to increase in size. 
     In contrast, the other embodiment in JPH 10-199621 A discloses a connector including a locking hole and a warp-preventing portion. A locked portion that is disposed so as to protrude on a locking arm, is inserted into the locking hole disposed on each of locking arm protective walls. An upper edge of the locking hole has an opening so that the warp-preventing portion that locks the locked portion is disposed. 
     In the above-mentioned connector, the locked portion that is disposed so as to protrude on the locking arm, is inserted into the locking hole that passes through each of the locking arm protective walls. Accordingly, there is no need for securing the arrangement space for arranging the locked portion between the locking arm protective walls. The connector can be downsized. 
     However, in the connector according to the other embodiment in JPH 10-199621 A, the upper edge of the locking hole has the opening for locking the locked portion. Thus, since strength of the warp-preventing portion lowers, when the locked portion and the warp-preventing portion engage with each other, there is a risk that the warp-preventing portion is damaged. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of being downsized and preventing damage caused by displacement toward one side of a swinging direction of a locking arm. 
     A connector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a housing capable of fitting with a mating housing, a locking arm swingably disposed on the housing and having a locking portion capable of locking with a locked portion of the mating housing, and locking arm protective walls disposed on the housing and arranged at least on both sides in a width direction of the locking arm. An engaging protrusion is disposed on each of the locking arm protective walls so as to protrude toward the locking arm. An engaging recess portion is disposed on the locking arm, the engaging recess portion being positioned on a surface facing each of the locking arm protective walls, engaging with the engaging protrusion, and regulating displacement toward one side of a swinging direction of the locking arm. 
     In the connector, the locking arm includes the engaging recess portion. The engaging recess portion is positioned on a surface facing each, of locking arm protective walls, engages with the engaging protrusion disposed so as to protrude on each of the plurality of the locking arm protective walls, and regulates the displacement toward the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm. Therefore, the engaging recess portion houses the engaging protrusion. There is no need for securing an arrangement space for arranging the engaging protrusion between the locking arm protective walls. The connector can be downsized. 
     The engaging protrusion and the engaging recess portion engage with each other so as to regulate the displacement toward the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm. Therefore, without engaging the engaging protrusion with a portion that has lowered its strength like an edge portion having an opening, strength of the engaging recess portion can be retained and damage of the engaging recess portion can be prevented. 
     Therefore, the locking arm and the locking arm protective walls are arranged adjacent to each other so that the above connector can be downsized. The strength of the engaging recess portion can be retained and the damage caused by the displacement toward the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm can be prevented. 
     The locking portion may be disposed on a side of a first end in a longitudinal direction of the locking arm. A releasing-operation portion that releases locking of the locking portion with the locked portion due to a swinging operation by pressing force, may be disposed on a side of a second end in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm. The engaging recess portion may be disposed on a side of the releasing-operation portion of the locking arm. 
     In the connector, since the engaging recess portion is disposed on the side of the releasing-operation portion of the locking arm, engagement between the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess portion gives no effect to locking between the locking portion and the locked portion. Therefore, a fitting state between the housing and the mating housing can be stably retained. 
     An end surface in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm may be positioned inside an end surface in a longitudinal direction of each of the locking arm protective walls. 
     In the connector, since the end surface in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm is positioned inside the end surface in the longitudinal direction of each of the locking arm protective walls, the locking arm protective walls can securely protect the locking arm and interference between the locking arm and a peripheral member can be prevented. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there can be provided the connector capable of being downsized and preventing the damage caused by the displacement toward the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion of a housing of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the housing of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the housing of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a locking arm of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of the locking arm of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is a front view of the locking arm of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6C  is a side view of the locking arm of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6C . 
     A connector  1  according to the present embodiment includes a housing  5 , a locking arm  11 , and locking arm protective walls  13 ,  13 . The housing  5  is capable of fitting with a mating housing  3 . The locking arm  11  is swingably disposed on the housing  5 , and has a locking portion  9  capable of locking with a locked portion  7  of the mating housing  3 . The locking arm protective walls  13 ,  13  are disposed in the housing  5  and are arranged on both sides in a width direction of the locking arm  11 . 
     Each of the locking arm protective walls  13  includes an engaging protrusion  15  disposed so as to protrude toward the locking arm  11 . The locking atm  11  includes an engaging recess portion  17 . The engaging recess portion  17  is positioned on a surface facing each of the locking arm protective walls  13 , engages with the engaging protrusion  15 , and regulates displacement toward one side of a swinging direction of the locking arm  11 . 
     The locking portion  9  is disposed on a side of one end in a longitudinal direction of the locking arm  11 . A releasing-operation portion  19  is disposed on a side of the other end in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm  11 . The releasing-operation portion  19  releases locking of the locking portion  9  with the locked portion  7  due to a swinging operation by pressing force. The engaging recess portion  17  is disposed on a side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11 . 
     An end surface  21  in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm  11  is positioned inside an end surface  23  in a longitudinal direction of each of the locking arm protective walls  13 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the mating housing  3  includes an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin, and is formed so as to be cylindrical. The mating housing  3  houses mating terminals  25 . Each of the mating terminals  25  is electrically coupled to, for example, a power source or an apparatus, and is a male terminal having a tab-shaped connection portion. The locked portion  7  is disposed so as to protrude on an upper surface of the mating housing  3  that houses the mating terminals  25 . 
     A front side of the locked portion  7  in a fitting direction with the housing  5  has an inclined plane. A rear side of the locked portion  7  in the fitting direction with the housing  5  has a locking surface that is formed so as to be substantially perpendicular to an upper surface. The mating housing  3  including the locked portion  7  disposed on the mating housing  3 , can fit with the housing  5 . 
     Note that a seal member, such as a packing material, is arranged between the mating housing  3  and the housing  5 . The seal member is in contact with an external circumferential surface of the mating housing  3  and an internal circumferential surface of the housing  5 , and divides an inside and an outside of the housing  5  for waterproofing. 
     The housing  5  includes an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin, and are formed so as to have a housing that includes an opening into which the mating housing  3  can be inserted, on a side of one end. The housing  5  includes a plurality of terminal housing chambers  27  disposed inside and the locking arm  11  swingably disposed on a side of an upper surface of the housing  5 . 
     The plurality of terminal housing chambers  27  (three in this case) is formed and arranged at a central portion of the housing  5  in a longitudinal direction of the housing  5 . Each of the terminal housing chambers  27  houses each of a plurality of terminals  29  that include a female terminal having a box-shaped connection portion capable of coupling to the connector portion of each of the mating terminals  25  through an opening disposed on a side of the other end of the housing  5 . 
     The plurality of terminals  29  includes a conductive material. A crimp portion of each of the plurality of terminals  29  is crimped with and electrically coupled to a terminal portion of an electric wire (not illustrated) that is coupled to, for example, a power source or an apparatus. Each of the plurality of terminals  29  is inserted into each of the plurality of terminal housing chambers  27  through the opening disposed on the side of the other end of the housing  5 . A locking lance (not illustrated) disposed so as to be flexible inside each of the plurality of terminal housing chambers  27  and a spacer (not illustrated) to be inserted into each of the plurality of terminal housing chambers  27  lock the terminal  29  so that the terminal  29  is prevented from coming off each of the plurality of terminal housing chambers  27 . 
     A seal member such as a rubber stopper for waterproofing an inside of each of the plurality of terminal housing chambers  27 , is attached to an external circumference of the electric wire of the terminal portion coupled to each of the plurality of terminals  29  in close contact with an internal wall surface of each of the plurality of terminal housing chambers  27 . 
     The mating housing  3  and the housing  5  fit with each other so that the connection portion of each of the mating terminals  25  to be inserted through an opening on a side of one end of each of the plurality of terminal housing chambers  27  is inserted into a box-shaped connector portion. Then, the above plurality of terminals  29  is electrically coupled to the plurality of mating terminals  25 . 
     Locking between the locking portion  9  of the locking arm  11  and the locked portion  7  of the mating housing  3  that retain a fitting state between the mating housing  3  and the housing  5 , retains a connecting state between each of the plurality of terminals  29  and each of the mating terminals  25 . 
     The locking arm  11  is arranged above the housing  5  by a supporting portion  31  so as to be swingable in a height direction of the housing  5 . The locking arm  11  is formed of a pair of joined portions  33 ,  33 , the locking portion  9 , and a releasing-operation portion  19  so as to be frame-shaped. The pair of joined portions  33 ,  33  is positioned outside the supporting portion  31  and is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the housing  5 . The locking portion  9  is disposed on the side of one end of the locking arm  11 . The releasing-operation portion  19  is disposed on the side of the other end of the locking arm  11 . 
     The locking portion  9  is a coupling portion that couples a side of one end of the pair of joined portions  33 ,  33  and a pair of branch portions  35 ,  35 . The pair of joined portions  33 ,  33  is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the housing  5 . The pair of branch portions  35 ,  35  is arranged between the pair of joined portions  33 ,  33  and branches at the supporting portion  31  disposed in the longitudinal direction of the housing  5 . 
     A front side of the locking portion  9  in a fitting direction with the mating housing  3  positioned below the locking portion  9 , has an inclined plane. A rear side of the locking portion  9  in the fitting direction with the mating housing  3  in a recess portion formed of the pair of branch portions  35 ,  35 , has a locking surface that is formed so as to be substantially perpendicular to an upper surface of the locking portion  9 . 
     Upon fitting between the mating housing  3  and the housing  5 , the inclined plane of the above locking portion  9  abuts on the inclined plane of the locked portion  7  so that the locking portion  9  swings the locking arm  11  upward. When the mating housing  3  and the housing  5  fit with each other, the locking arm  11  gets over the locked portion  7  and swings so as to be restored downward. The locked portion  7  is housed in the recess portion formed of the pair of branch portions  35 ,  35  and the locking portion  9 . The locking surface of the locking portion  9  locks the locking surface of the locked portion  7  so as to retain the fitting state between the mating housing  3  and the housing  5 . 
     The releasing-operation portion  19  is arranged outside the supporting portion  31  and on a side of the other end of the pair of joined portions  33 ,  33 . The releasing-operation portion  19  is a coupling portion that couples the side of the other end of the pair of joined portions  33 ,  33 . The locking arm  11  is formed of the releasing-operation portion  19 , the pair of joined portions  33 ,  33 , and the locking portion  9  on the side of one end of the pair of joined portions  33 ,  33  so as to be frame-shaped. 
     By pressing an upper surface of the releasing-operation portion  19  downward by, for example, a finger of an operator, the above releasing-operation portion  19  swings a side of the locking portion  9  of the locking arm  11  upward and releases locking between the locking portion  9  and the locked portion  7 . Accordingly, fitting between the mating housing  3  and the housing  5  can be released. 
     Upon locking of the locking portion  9  and the locked portion  7 , when the side of the locking portion  9  is displaced upward, a side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the above locking arm  11  is displaced downward. When the locking portion  9  and the locked portion  7  lock each other, the side of the locking portion  9  is displaced downward and the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  is displaced upward by restoration of the locking arm  11 . 
     The locking arm protective walls  13 ,  13  are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the locking arm  11  including the releasing-operation portion  19  and the locking portion  9  disposed thereon. Each of the locking arm protective walls  13 ,  13  is formed of one member continuing with the housing  5 . 
     The locking arm protective walls  13  are positioned on both the sides in the width direction of locking arm  11 . An upper surface of each of the locking arm protective walls  13  is arranged so as to be positioned above the upper surface of the locking arm  11  in a free state of the locking arm  11 . 
     Arranging the locking arm protective walls  13  around the locking arm  11  can protect the locking arm  11  so as to prevent interference between the locking arm  11  and a peripheral member. 
     Only protecting the locking arm  11  with the locking arm protective walls  13  causes external force to act on the side of the releasing-operation portion  19 . When the locking arm  11  is excessively displaced to the one side of the swinging direction (upward direction from the upper surfaces of the locking arm protective walls  13 ), the locking arm  11  may be damaged. 
     The engaging protrusions  15  and the engaging recess portions  17  that regulate the displacement to the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm  11 , are disposed on the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11 . 
     The engaging protrusions  15  are disposed so as to protrude from internal surfaces of the locking arm protective walls  13 ,  13  toward both side-surfaces in the width direction of the locking arm  11 . The engaging protrusions  15  are housed in the engaging recess portions  17  of the locking arm  11  in the free state of the locking arm  11 . 
     The engaging recess portions  17  are individually disposed on surfaces, facing the engaging protrusions  15 ,  15 , positioned on both sides in the width direction of the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11 . Each of the engaging recess portions  17  houses each of the engaging protrusions  15 . When the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11  is excessively displaced upward, a facing surface of each of the engaging protrusions  15  and a facing surface of each of the engaging recess portions  17  engages with each other. 
     The engagement between each of the engaging protrusions  15  and each of the engaging recess portions  17  regulates the upward displacement on the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11 . Therefore, the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11  does not project from the upper surfaces of the locking arm protective walls  13 . 
     In addition, each of the engaging protrusions  15  disposed so as to protrude on each of the locking arm protective walls  13 , is housed in each of the engaging recess portions  17  disposed on both the sides in the width direction of the locking arm  11 . Thus, there is no need for an arrangement space for arranging the engaging protrusions  15  between each of the locking arm protective walls  13  and each of the side surfaces of the locking arm  11 . Accordingly, the locking arm  11  and the locking arm protective walls  13 ,  13  can be arranged so as to be adjacent to each other. The connector  1  can be downsized in the width direction. 
     Furthermore, the engagement between each of the engaging protrusions  15  and each of the engaging recess portions  17  is engagement between a lower surface of each of the engaging protrusions  15  and an upper surface of a bottom wall of each of the engaging recess portions  17  that are surfaces facing each other, and is not engagement in which an opening is arranged at a part of an engaging portion and strength lowers. Accordingly, sufficient engaging strength can be retained and the damage of the engaging recess portions  17  can be prevented. 
     The end surface  21  in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm  11 , namely here the end surface  21  on the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm  11 , is positioned inside an end surface  23  in the longitudinal direction of each of the locking arm protective walls  13 . 
     Accordingly, the locking arm  11  does not project from each of the locking arm protective walls  13  in the longitudinal direction. The locking arm protective walls  13  can protect a periphery of the locking arm  11 . Interference between the locking arm  11  and a peripheral member can be prevented, and swinging of the locking arm  11  can be stabilized. 
     In particular, the engaging recess portions  17  that engage with the engaging protrusions  15 , are positioned on the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11 . Therefore, the locking arm protective walls  13  can securely protect the engaging recess portions  17 , and the damage of the engaging recess portions  17  caused by the interference with the peripheral member can be prevented. 
     In the connector  1 , each of the engaging recess portions  17  is positioned on the facing surface with respect to each of the locking arm protective walls  13 , engages with each of the engaging protrusions  15  that are disposed so as to protrude on each of the locking arm protective walls  13 , and regulates the displacement toward the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm  11 . Thus, each of the engaging protrusions  15  is housed in each of the engaging recess portions  17 . Accordingly, there is no need for securing the arrangement space for arranging the engaging protrusions  15  between the locking arm protective walls  13 ,  13 . The connector can be downsized. 
     Each of the engaging protrusions  15  and each of the engaging recess portions  17  engage with each other so as to regulate the displacement toward the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm  11 . Thus, each of the engaging protrusions  15  does not engage with an edge portion that has an opening and lowered strength. Accordingly, the strength of the engaging recess portions  17  can be retained and the damage of the engaging recess portions  17  can be prevented. 
     Therefore, the locking arm  11  and the locking arm protective walls  13  can be adjacent to each other so that the above connector  1  can be downsized. The strength of the engaging recess portions  17  can be retained, and the damage caused by the displacement toward the one side of the swinging direction of the locking arm  11  can be prevented. 
     The engaging recess portions  17  are disposed on the side of the releasing-operation portion  19  of the locking arm  11 . Accordingly, the engagement between each of the engaging protrusions  15  and each of the engaging recess portions  17  gives no effect to the locking between the locking portion  9  and the locked portion  7 . The fitting state between the housing  5  and the mating housing  3  can be stably retained. 
     Furthermore, the end surface  21  in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm  11  is positioned inside the end surface  23  in the longitudinal direction of each of the locking arm protective walls  13 . Accordingly, the locking arm protective walls  13  can securely protect the locking arm  11 . The interference between the locking arm  11  and the peripheral member can be prevented. 
     Note that, in the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, the swinging direction of the locking arm is defined as the height direction of the housing. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. The swinging direction of the locking arm may be arranged in the width direction of the housing. 
     The engaging protrusions and the engaging recess portions are disposed on the side of the releasing-operation portion of the locking arm. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. The engaging protrusions and the engaging recess portions may be disposed on the side of the locking portion of the locking arm. In this case, since the locking arm swings, the engaging direction between each of the engaging protrusions and each of the engaging recess portions may be arranged so as to be reverse to that between each of the engaging protrusions and each of the engaging recess portions disposed on the side of the releasing-operation portion. 
     As an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm, the end surface on the side of the releasing-operation portion is illustrated. An end surface on the side of the locking portion is positioned inside an end surface in the longitudinal direction of each of the locking arm protective walls. The locking arm is entirely protected by the locking arm protective walls. 
     The locking arm protective walls are arranged on both the sides in the width direction of the locking arm, but are not limited to this. The locking arm protective walls may be further disposed on both the sides in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm so as to cover the periphery of the locking arm.