Patent Publication Number: US-10763610-B2

Title: Male connector and connector assembly comprising the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0031626, filed on Mar. 19, 2018, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0012100, filed on Jan. 30, 2019. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector and, more particularly, to a male connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A connector permits selective connection or disconnection of an electrical connection. The connector can be used in various types of electronic mechanical devices, for example, vehicles and home appliances, and used for electrical connection and/or physical connection between a plurality of electrical parts. Damage can occur to an access terminal of a connector by misalignment of the access terminal, and fluid or foreign substances can also flow into the connector. 
     A connector assembly according to the prior art, disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2015-0140262, is shown in  FIG. 18 . As shown to  FIG. 18 , the connector assembly includes a protection plate  90  supported by a protection plate locking member  82  mounted in a cap housing  80 . A locking recess  92  configured to lock the protection plate locking member  82  is formed on an outer side of the protection plate  90 . The protection plate locking member  82  has a shape that protrudes toward a center portion of the cap housing  80 . To manufacture the shape through an injection molding method, a core hole H is formed in an edge of the cap housing  80 . The core hole H needs to be waterproofed for waterproofing of the connector assembly. In addition, for waterproofing the core hole H and a plurality of stepped ports on the same area, a size of the connector assembly increases. 
     SUMMARY 
     A connector assembly comprises a male connector and a female connector. The male connector includes a cap housing, an access terminal accommodated in the cap housing, a connecting part fixably mounted in the cap housing, and a protection part configured to be movable relative to the connecting part in a lengthwise direction of the access terminal. The female connector includes a plug housing configured to insert in the cap housing. The plug housing is configured to release a fastening state between the connecting part and the protection part and to push the protection part toward a floor surface of the connecting part during coupling of the male connector and the female connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the connector assembly in a state in which a female connector and a male connector are not coupled; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the connector assembly in a state in which the female connector and the male connector are coupled; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the connector assembly in the state in which the female connector and the male connector are not coupled; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the connector assembly in the state in which the female connector and the male connector are coupled; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the male connector; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a cap housing of the male connector; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of the cap housing; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a connecting part, a protection part, and a slider of the male connector; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear view of the male connector; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional side view of a process in which a locking member and a separation protrusion interact during coupling of the female connector and the male connector; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional side view of a process in which the locking member and the separation protrusion interact during decoupling of the female connector and the male connector; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional side view of a process in which a support rod and a mounting protrusion interact during coupling of the female connector and the male connector; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional side view of a process in which the support rod and the mounting protrusion interact during coupling of the female connector and the male connector; 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom view of the male connector; 
         FIG. 16  shows a process in which a cap protrusion fastens to a connecting part during coupling of the cap protrusion and the connecting part; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a connecting part and an assistance part of a connector according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional side view of a connector assembly according to the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regarding the reference numerals assigned to the elements in the drawings, it should be noted that the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, wherever possible, even though they are shown in different drawings. Also, in the description of embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure. 
     In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used herein to describe components. Each of these terminologies is not used to define an essence, order or sequence of a corresponding component but used merely to distinguish the corresponding component from other component(s). It should be noted that if it is described in the specification that one component is “connected”, “coupled”, or “joined” to another component, a third component may be “connected”, “coupled”, and “joined” between the first and second components, although the first component may be directly connected, coupled or joined to the second component. 
     A component having a common function with a component included in one example embodiment is described using a like name in another example embodiment. Unless otherwise described, a description made in one example embodiment may be applicable to another example embodiment and a detailed description within a duplicate range is omitted. 
     A connector assembly  100  according to an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , comprises a male connector  1  and a female connector  2  capable of being coupled with or separated from each other. The connector assembly  100  creates an electrical connection and/or a physical connection between a plurality of electronic parts. In an embodiment, the male connector  1  is electrically and/or physically connected to a first electronic part and the female connector  2  is electrically and/or physically connected to a second electronic part. Through mutual physical coupling, the male connector  1  and the female connector  2  connect the plurality of electronic parts. 
     The male connector  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , include a cap housing  11 . The cap housing  11  may be open toward a front (+x-axial direction) and a rear (−x-axial direction). A rear opening of the male connector  1  may be covered by the female connector  2 . A front opening of the male connector  1  may include a main opening  1   a  configured to surround an access terminal  12 , shown in  FIG. 4 , and a plurality of assistance openings  1   b  configured to accommodate other wires. A seal may insert into the main opening  1   a  and the assistance openings  1   b  and may prevent water or foreign substances from flowing in from an outside through the front opening of the male connector  1 . 
     The female connector  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , may be provided to the male connector  1 . The female connector  2  is slidable along an outer side of the male connector  1 . The female connector  2  may include a case  21  and a connector lever  23 . The case  21  may include a case protrusion  21   a  configured to protrude, for example, in a direction (y-axial direction) perpendicular to a direction (x-axial direction) in which the female connector  2  slides. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the cap housing  11  may include an outer protrusion  11   a  configured to protrude in the y-axial direction. The connector lever  23  may be rotatably connected to the case protrusion  21   a . The connector lever  23  may adjust a distance between the case protrusion  21   a  and the outer protrusion  11   a  to assist coupling of the cap housing  11  and the case  21 . 
     The connector lever  23 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , may include a lever opening  23   a  configured to accommodate the outer protrusion  11   a  and a lever guide  23   b  configured to set a travel route of the outer protrusion  11   a . When the outer protrusion  11   a  is verified to be inserted into the lever guide  23   b , a user may rotate the connector lever  23  in a direction (counterclockwise around the y axis) indicated by an indicator with an arrow head of  FIG. 3 . During rotation of the connector lever  23 , the outer protrusion  11   a  may become closer to the case protrusion  21   a . Unless the connector lever  23  rotates clockwise based on the y axis, the male connector  1  and the female connector  2  may maintain the coupled state. 
     A waterproof structure is provided when coupling the male connector  1  and the female connector  2 . If a core hole H is formed as in the prior art in  FIG. 18 , a separate waterproof structure for sealing the core hole H is required. In the connector assembly  100 , the above issue is avoided by providing the core hole to the main opening  1   a , as described in greater detail below; the separate waterproof structure for sealing the core hole is not required. 
     In the connector assembly  100 , a core hole H 2  is provided to the main opening  1   a , as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . According to this structure, a separate configuration for sealing the core hole H 2  is not required. The core hole H 2  indicates a hole that is unavoidably formed while forming a cap protrusion  113 . To provide the core hole H 2  to the main opening  1   a , the cap protrusion  113  needs to be separate from an inner sidewall of the cap housing  11  by a desired distance. To provide the connector assembly  100  in a compact structure, a support rod  132  may be maximally proximate to the inner sidewall of the cap housing  11 . Accordingly, the connector assembly  100  includes a connecting part  13  as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 and 9 . A protection part  14  of the connector assembly  100  is understood to slide vertically relative to the connecting part  13  that is configured to fasten to the cap housing  11 , instead of directly sliding vertically relative to the cap housing  11 . According to the above structure, the compact structure may be implemented by providing the support rod  132  to be proximate to the inner sidewall of the cap housing  11  while providing the core hole H 2  to the main opening  1   a.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-9 , the connector assembly  100  may include the male connector  1 , the female connector  2 , and an inner seal  24 . The male connector  1  may include the cap housing  11 , the access terminal  12 , the connecting part  13 , the protection part  14 , a coupling part  15 , and a slider  16 . 
     In  FIG. 18 , because the protection plate locking member  82  and the cap housing  80  are integrally formed in the prior art, the core hole H corresponding to the protection plate locking member  82  is formed in the cap housing  80 . In the connector assembly  100  according to the present invention, by manufacturing the cap housing  11  and the connecting part  13  as separate members and then assembling the same, the core hole H may be formed in not the cap housing  11  but the connecting part  13 . Here, the cap protrusion  113  is simply only an example of the “fastening structure” that is a configuration configured to fasten the connecting part  13  to the cap housing  11 . As described above, the cap housing  11  and the connecting part  13  are manufactured as separate members and then assembled, and when the protection part  14  ascends or descends relatively with respect to the cap housing  11 , the connecting part  13  may not move relative to the cap housing  11  by way of the fastening structure that fastens the cap housing  11  and the connecting part  13  to each other. 
     The fastening structure is configured to fasten the cap housing  11  and the connecting part  13  to each other. Although the fastening structure is described hereinafter as the cap protrusion  113  that is a lower configuration of the cap housing  11 , it is provided as an example only. In other embodiments, the fastening structure may be a protrusion that protrudes from the connecting part  13  and fastens to the cap housing  11 . 
     The cap housing  11  may accommodate the access terminal  12 , the connecting part  13 , the protection part  14 , the coupling part  15 , and the slider  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . The cap housing  11  may support the access terminal  12  such that a lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12  is in parallel with a direction in which the male connector  1  inserts into the female connector  2 . The main opening  1   a  and the assistance opening  1   b  may be provided at the front of the cap housing  11 . Each of the main opening  1   a  and the assistance opening  1   b  may be sealed by internally inserted seal. The main opening  1   a  may communicate with a terminal hole H 1  to be described below. When the main opening  1   a  is sealed, water or foreign substances may be prevented from flowing from the outside into the terminal hole H 1 . The assistance opening  1   b  may be an opening through which a cable passes. The cap housing  11  may include a cap body  111 , a cap head  112 , the capture protrusion  113  corresponding to the fastening structure, and a cap guide  114 . 
     The cap body  111 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-8 , forms an external appearance of the cap housing  11 . An internal shape of the cap body  111  may correspond to an external appearance shape of the connecting part  13 . Here, the cap body  111  may assist 1 degree of freedom (1 DoF) sliding of the connecting part  13 . The cap body  111  may include the terminal hole H 1  for supporting the access terminal  12 . The cap body  111  may include a core hole for forming the fastening structure; the cap body  111  may include the core hole H 2  for forming a protrusion head  1132  of the cap protrusion  113 . The terminal hole H 1  and the core hole H 2  may penetrate and thereby be formed in the cap body  111 . The access terminal  12  may insert into the terminal hole H 1 , and the access terminal  12  inserted into the terminal hole H 1  may be supported by the cap body  111 . A number of terminal holes H 1  may be formed based on a number of access terminals  12 . The core hole H 2  may be a hole that is formed in response to insertion of a core to form the cap protrusion  113  in an undercut shape during an injection molding process. As described below, the cap protrusion  113  may include a protrusion body  1131  configured to protrude upward from the cap body  111  and a protrusion head  1132  configured to protrude sideward from the protrusion body  1131 . To form the protrusion head  1132 , the core hole H 2  that penetrates the cap body  111  is essentially formed. Likewise, a number of core holes H 2  corresponding to a number of cap protrusions  113  may be formed. 
     The core hole H 2 , as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , may be positioned within a waterproof area for waterproofing the inside of the cap body  111  based on a direction in parallel with the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . The waterproof area refers to an area in which, for example, the seal is provided to prevent fluid from flowing from the outside into the cap body  111 . The seal may be provided to the main opening  1   a  and/or the assistance opening  1   b  and may prevent fluid from flowing into the cap body  111  through the main opening  1   a  or the assistance opening  1   b . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the seal may be provided at a position at which the terminal hole H 1  and the core hole H 2  may cover the entire main opening  1   a  corresponding to the waterproof area. For example, when the cap housing  11  includes the cap head  112  to be described below, the main opening  1   a  may be defined by the edge of the cap head  112  and the core hole H 2  may be provided in the cap head  112 . 
     In another embodiment, when the entire size of the access terminal  12  is relatively large, the cap housing  11  may not include the cap head  112 . In this case, the waterproof area may be the terminal hole H 1  into which the access terminal  12  inserts and also may be an area in which the seal for preventing the fluid from flowing along the terminal hole H 1  is provided. A portion of an edge of the terminal hole H 1  may function as the core hole H 2 . For example, the core hole H 2  may be provided within a distance separate between the access terminal  12  and an inner side of the terminal hole H 1  based on the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . According to the above structure, a separate configuration for waterproofing the core hole H 2  is not required. 
     The cap head  112  may protrude from the cap body  111  and may form the main opening  1   a , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The cap head  112  may surround the access terminal  12 . The cap head  112  may protrude in a direction (+x-axial direction) opposite to a direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a coupling direction of the male connector  1  with respect to the female connector  2 ) in which the male connector  1  couples with the female connector  2 . The cap head  112  may guide an electronic part to stably couple with the connector assembly  100 . 
     The cap protrusion  113  corresponding to the fastening structure may fasten the connecting part  13  that is provided in the cap body  111 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . The cap protrusion  113  may be separate further away from an inner wall of the cap housing  11  rather than the support rod  132 . Accordingly, the core hole H 2  may be formed to be relatively close to a center. In addition, the cap protrusion  113  is only a configuration that configures to fasten the connecting part  13  and a configuration, for example, the support rod  132 , configured to support the protection part  14  is separately provided to the connecting part  13 . Accordingly, the connector assembly  100  may be in a compact structure. 
     The cap protrusion  113  may penetrate the slider  16  and fasten the connecting part  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . While the cap protrusion  113  limits movement of the connecting part  13  in a widthwise direction (y-axial direction or z-axial direction) of the connector assembly  100 , the cap protrusion  113  does not limit movement of the slider  16 . The cap protrusion  113  may include the protrusion body  1131  configured to protrude from the cap body  111  in a direction opposite to a direction in which the cap body  111  protrudes and the protrusion head  1132  configured to protrude from the protrusion body  1131  and to fasten the connecting part  13 . The protrusion body  1131  may protrude in the coupling direction (−x-axial direction) of the male connector  1  with respect to the female connector  2 . The protrusion head  1132  may protrude from the protrusion body  1131  in a direction intersecting a direction in which the protrusion body  1131  protrudes. The connecting part  13  may include a connecting part groove configured to accommodate the protrusion head  1132  when the connecting part  13  is fully accommodated in the cap body  111 . 
     A plurality of cap protrusions  113  may be provided as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . A portion of the plurality of cap protrusions  113  may be formed to face each other based on the terminal hole H 1  and may support another portion of the connecting part  13 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , four cap protrusions  113  may be provided. Two cap protrusions  113  may be formed in a +z-axial direction based on the terminal hole H 1  and other two cap protrusions  113  may be formed in a −z-axial direction based on the terminal hole H 1 . 
     The protrusion body  1131 , shown in  FIG. 6 , may be deformed due to interference with the connecting part  13 . The protrusion head  1132  may include an upper portion in a planar surface and may include a surface inclined from the upper portion toward a lower portion of the protrusion head  1132 . A length of the protrusion head  1132  that protrudes from the protrusion body  1131  may increase with getting downward from an upper end of the protrusion body  1131 . According to the above structure, while the connecting part  13  is descending along the cap body  111 , the cap protrusion  113  may interfere with the connecting part  13  and be deformed on an outside of the cap protrusion  13 . When the connecting part  13  is fully accommodated in the cap body  111 , the cap protrusion  113  may restore to an original state and may fasten the connecting part  13 . 
     A thickness of the protrusion body  1131  of the cap protrusion  113  is greater than a thickness of a portion farther away from the cap body  111 , that is, the protrusion head  1132 . Therefore, the core hole H 2  may be formed in the cap body  111 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the core hole H 2  may penetrate and thereby be formed below the protrusion head  1132 . The core hole H 2  may be surrounded by the cap head  112  based on a state in which the core hole H 2  faces the cap body  111  in a direction in parallel with the terminal hole H 1 . That is, the core hole H 2  may be formed inward of the cap head  112 . When the core hole H 2  is formed inward of the cap head  112  and, in this instance, the cap head  112  is sealed by the seal, the core hole H 2  as well as the terminal hole H 1  may be sealed. The cap protrusion  113  is not a configuration configured to directly interact with the protection part  14  but a configuration configured to fasten the connecting part  13  and thus, may be formed to be separate from an inner side surface of the cap body  111 . The support rod  132  of the connecting part  13  that is a configuration configured to directly interact with the protection part  14  may be formed at a most outward edge of the connecting part  13  and may assist a sufficient space to be provided inside the protection part  14 . 
     The cap guide  114  may interfere with a locking member  142  of the protection part  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . The cap guide  114  may protrude from the inner wall of the cap housing  11  and may be formed at a height less than a height of the inner wall. While the protection part  14  is being supported by the support rod  132  of the connecting part  13 , the cap guide  114  may be separate from the locking member  142 . When the protection part  14  descends along the connecting part  13  without being supported by the support rod  132  of the connecting part  13 , the cap guide  114  may maintain the locking member  142  not to be deformed on the outer side. The locking member  142  may be supported by the cap guide  114  to be prevented from being deformed while the female connector  2  is ascending from the male connector  1  by a desired (or, alternatively, predetermined) distance, and may not be supported by the cap guide  114  to thereby be deformed when the female connector  2  ascends to be above the distance. Accordingly, a plug housing  22  may be separate from the protection part  14 . 
     The access terminal  12  may electrically connect a first electronic part mounted to the male connector  1  and a second electronic part mounted to the female connector  2 . The access terminal  12  may be mounted to the cap housing  11 . A plurality of access terminals  12  may be provided. A lower end of the access terminal  12  may be exposed in a direction in which the cap head  112  protrudes and an upper end of the access terminal  12  may be exposed in a direction in which the cap protrusion  113  protrudes. The upper end of the access terminal  12  may be supported by the protection part  14 . 
     The connecting part  13  may be provided in the cap housing  11  and may support the protection part  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . The connecting part  13  may assist the protection part  14  to be vertically movable. Using the connecting part  13 , the core hole H 2  may be positioned to be adjacent to the terminal hole H 1  and may be surrounded by the cap head  112 . The protection part  14  may be supported by the support rod  132  that is formed on the edge of the connecting part  13  and may inwardly secure a sufficient space. The connecting part  13  may include a connecting body  131  and the support rod  132 . 
     The connecting part  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 , may include the support rod  132  at a position different from that of the cap protrusion  113 . Although the cap protrusion  113  is formed at a relatively center for setting a position of the core hole H 2 , the connecting part  13  may form the support rod  132  on the edge. According to the above structure, the connector assembly  100  may have a compact structure. 
     The connecting body  131  may be mounted to the cap housing  11  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . The connecting body  131  may include a connecting body groove configured to accommodate the protrusion head  1132  of the cap protrusion  113 . Once the connecting body  131  is fully inserted into the cap housing  11 , the protrusion head  1132  of the cap protrusion  113  may fasten the connecting body  131 . The user may decouple the cap protrusion  113  and the connecting body  131  through an exclusive zig. The connecting body  131  may include a connecting base  131   a  including a hole through which the access terminal  12  passes and a connecting sidewall portion  131   b  configured to protrude upward from an edge of the connecting base  131   a.    
     The support rod  132  may support the protection part  14  and may be elastically deformable as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . The support rod  132  may protrude from the connecting body  131 . For example, the support rod  132  may protrude from the connecting base  131   a  to be in parallel with the connecting sidewall portion  131   b . Based on a state in which the connecting part  13  is mounted to the cap housing  11 , the support rod  132  may be separate from the inner sidewall of the cap housing  11 . The support rod  132  may include a support body  1321  configured to protrude upward from the connecting body  131  and a support head  1322  configured to protrude from the support board  1321  toward inside of the connecting body  131 . Before the male connector  1  inserts into the female connector  2 , the support rod  132  may support the protection part  14 . While the male connector  1  is being inserted into the female connector  2 , the female connector  2  may deform the support rod  132  to the outer side through interference with the support head  1322  and accordingly, the support rod  132  may not support the protection part  14  and the protection part  14  may descend along the connecting part  13 . The support rod  132  may be provided at an outside of a boundary defined by the edge of the cap head  112  based on the direction parallel with the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-9 , the cap protrusion  113  may be provided inside the plug housing  22  and the support rod  132  may be provided outside the plug housing  22 , based on the direction parallel with the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . The protection part  14  may support a tip portion of the upper end of the access terminal  12  and may protect the access terminal  12  such that the access terminal  12  may be properly aligned with the female connector  2  and the access terminal  12  may not be damaged. The protection part  14  may be vertically movable along the connecting part  13 . For example, while the protection part  14  is being supported by the support rod  132  of the connecting part  13 , movement of the protection part  14  may be limited. When the female connector  2  pushes the support rod  132  to an outer side, the protection part  14  may descend relative to the connecting part  13 . While the female connector  2  is being separate from the male connector  1 , the protection part  14  may interfere with the female connector  2  and may ascend relative to the connecting part  13 . The protection part  14  may include a protection body  141 , the locking member  142 , a support protrusion  143 , and a protection guide  144 . 
     The protection body  141  may be supported by the support rod  132  and may maintain a position separate from the connecting body  131 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . That the protection body  141  is present at the position separate from the connecting body  131  indicates that the protection body  141  and the connecting body  131  are separate from each other in the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . The protection body  141  may include a hole for supporting the access terminal  12  and may be supported by the support rod  132 . The protection body  141  may be supported by the support rod  132  with being separate from the connecting body  131  in the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . The protection body  141  may include a protection base  141   a  including a hole through which the access terminal  12  passes and a protection sidewall portion  141   b  configured to protrude upward from an edge of the protection base  141   a . The protection base  141   a  may be separate from the connecting base  131   a  in the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . The female connector  2  may insert into the protection sidewall portion  141   b  and may pressurize the protection base  141   a  toward the connecting base  131   a.    
     The locking member  142  may be formed on the protection body  141  to be elastically deformable. The locking member  142  may interfere with the female connector  2 . While the female connector  2  is being mounted to the male connector  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the locking member  142  may be deformed to an outer side such that the female connector  2  may pass. While the female connector  2  is separate from the male connector  1 , the deformation of the locking member  142  to the outer side may be limited by way of the cap guide  114  and may ascend with the female connector  2 . Interference between the locking member  142  and the female connector  2  will be further described with reference to  FIGS. 11-13 . The locking member  142  may protrude from an upper end edge of the protection sidewall portion  141   b  to be in parallel with a direction in which the protection sidewall portion  141   b  protrudes. For example, the locking member  142  may protrude upward or downward from the upper end edge of the protection sidewall portion  141   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-9 , the support protrusion  143  may protrude sideward from the protection sidewall portion  141   b  and may contact a top surface of the support rod  132 . By way of the support protrusion  143 , the protection base  141   a  may maintain a state separate upward from the connecting base  131   a . The protection guide  144  may assist alignment of the female connector  2  relative to the protection part  14 . The protection guide  144  may protrude from the protection base  141   a  in the lengthwise direction of the access terminal  12 . 
     The coupling part  15  may be temporarily deformed while the protection part  14  is being mounted to the connecting part  13  and may return to an original shape when the protection part  14  is mounted to the connecting part  13 , thereby coupling the connecting part  13  and the protection part  14 . For example, the coupling part  15  may protrude from the connecting part  13  and may protect the protection part  14  from being separate from the connecting part  13 . In a state in which the connecting part  13  and the protection part  14  are coupled through the coupling part  15 , the protection part  14  may ascend or descend within a desired (or, alternatively, predetermined) distance with respect to the connecting part  13 . 
     The coupling part  15 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , may include a coupling body  151 , a coupling protrusion  152 , and a coupling guide  153 . The coupling body  151  may protrude from the connecting body  131  and may pass through the protection body  141 . The coupling body  151  may function to align the connecting body  131  and the protection body  141 . For example, the coupling body  151  may be in an elongated plate shape in a widthwise direction (y-axial direction or z-axial direction) of the connecting body  131 , and the protection body  141  may include a hole in a corresponding shape to allow the coupling body  151  to pass. When the coupling body  151  enters to fit the hole of the protection body  141 , the coupling body  151  and the protection body  141  may be normally coupled. 
     The coupling protrusion  152  may protrude from the coupling body  151  in a direction that intersects a direction in which the coupling body  151  protrudes. While the protection part  14  is being inserted into the connecting part  13 , the coupling part  15  may be deformed due to interference with the protection part  14 . Once the protection part  14  passes through the connecting part  13 , the coupling part  15  may return to an original shape and may prevent the protection part  14  from being separate from the connecting part  13 . A top surface of the coupling protrusion  152  may include an inclined surface. For example, the coupling protrusion  152  that protrudes from the coupling body  151  may have an upwardly decreasing length. Meanwhile, a bottom surface of the coupling protrusion  152  may include a planar surface in parallel with a top surface of the protection base  141   a . According to the above structure, the protection part  14  may pass the coupling protrusion  152  and be mount to the connecting part  13  through a motion of simply pushing the protection part  14  into the connecting part  13 . On the contrary, the protection part  14  may not be readily separate from the connecting part  13  through a motion of simply pulling the protection part  14 . The user may need to deform the coupling part  15  using a tool or a finger and to separate the protection part  14  from the connecting part  13 . 
     The coupling guide  153  may protrude from the coupling body  151  in a direction opposite to the direction in which the coupling protrusion  152  protrudes. The coupling guide  153  may assist alignment of the connecting part  13  and the protection part  14  with the coupling body  151 . A plurality of coupling guides  153  may be provided to be separate at desired distances. The slider  16  may be a position assurance member (double lock (DBL)) of the connector assembly  100 . As described above, to implement the waterproof structure of the connector assembly  100 , the core hole H 2  is provided to the main opening  1   a . To provide the core hole H 2  to the main opening  1   a , the cap protrusion  113  needs to be separate from the inner sidewall of the cap housing  11  by a desired (or, alternatively, predetermined) distance. To achieve the compact structure with the waterproof structure of the connector assembly  100 , the support rod  132  needs to be positioned to be maximally close to the inner sidewall of the cap housing  11 . Therefore, the connector assembly  100  includes the connecting part  13  that is a configuration separate from the cap housing  11  and the protection part  14 . Although the connecting part  13  is fastened to the cap housing  11 , the slider  16  may perform the position assurance member (DBL) functionality of the connector assembly  100  without a structural difficulty. Hereinafter, the slider  16  will be further described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 and 9 , the slider  16  may be provided to be slidable relative to the connecting part  13  and may prevent the access terminal  12  from being deviated, that is, separate from the connecting part  13 . For example, the slider  16  may slide in one direction (+z-axial direction) relative to the connecting body  131  and thereby insert into the access terminal  12 , and may slide in a direction (−z-axial direction) opposite to the one direction relative to the connecting body  131  and thereby be separate from the access terminal  12 . The access terminal  12  may include a groove configured to accommodate at least a portion of the slider  16 .  FIG. 4  shows a state in which the slider  16  is inserted into the groove of the access terminal  12 . When the slider  16  is inserted into the groove of the access terminal  12 , sliding of the slider  16  in the lengthwise direction (x-axial direction) of the access terminal  12  may be limited. Although not illustrated, when the slider  16  slides in the −z-axial direction and is separate from the groove of the access terminal  12 , the access terminal  12  may slide in the lengthwise direction (x-axial direction) of the access terminal  12 . Since the access terminal  12  is supported by the cap body  111 , a fastening state between the slider  16  and the cap body  111  may be maintained unless an external force with predetermined strength or more is applied. The slider  16  may include a slider body  161  and a slider lever  162 . 
     The slider body  161  is slidable along the connecting part  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-9 . The slider body  161  may be provided to face the protection part  14  based on the connecting part  13 . The connecting part  13  may stably support the protection part  14  in a fastened state and the slider body  161  provided below the connecting part  13  may slide in the z-axial direction and may insert into or be separate from the groove of the access terminal  12 . 
     The slider lever  162  may protrude from the slider body  161 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and may transmit power applied from the outside to the slider body  161 . The user may slide the slider body  161  by applying a force to the slider lever  162 . For example, the user may couple the access terminal  12  and the slider body  161  by pulling the slider lever  162  in the +z-axial direction. Also, the user may decouple the access terminal  12  and the slider body  161  by pushing the slider lever  162  in the −z-axial direction. The slider lever  162  may protrude from the slider body  161  and an upper end thereof may pass the protection part  14 . The slider lever  162  may be provided to be externally exposed in a state in which the connecting part  13  and the protection part  14  are installed inside the cap housing  11 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , although the slider body  161  is provided below the connecting part  13  and the protection part  14 , the upper end of the slider lever  162  may be positioned above the protection part  14 . Through the above structure, although the slider body  161  is positioned below the connecting part  13 , the user may easily control the slider body  161 . A portion of the protection part  14  may be cut to provide a space for exposing the slider lever  162  to the outside. The protection part  14  may allow the slider lever  162  to pass while being in close contact with the inner wall. 
     The female connector  2  may include the case  21 , the plug housing  22 , and the connector lever  23 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The case  21  may form an external appearance of the female connector  2 . A center portion of the case  21  may be connected at a rear surface of the plug housing  22  and an outskirt portion of the case  21  may be slidable relative to a lateral surface of the cap housing  11 . The center portion of the case  21  may support the inner seal  24 , which is described below. For example, the inner seal  24  in a ring shape may surround the center portion of the case  21 . 
     The plug housing  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , may remove a state in which the connecting part  13  and the protection part  14  are fastened to each other while the male connector  1  and the female connector  2  are being coupled with each other. The plug housing  22  may remove the fastening state of the connecting part  13  and the protection part  14  and may push the protection part  14  toward a floor surface of the connecting part  13 . Here, the floor surface of the connecting part  13  refers to a surface on which the connecting part  13  is separate from the protection part  14  and faces the protection part  14  in a state in which the protection part  14  is supported by the support rod  132 . The plug housing  22  may be mounted to the protection part  14  by connecting at the front of the center portion of the case  21  and by inserting into the cap housing  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11-14 , the plug housing  22  may include a plug body  221  configured to be slidable along an inner side of the protection part  14  and a mounting protrusion  222  and a separation protrusion  223  configured to protrude from the plug body  221  in a direction intersecting a direction in which the plug body  221  slides. Further description related to the mounting protrusion  222  and the separation protrusion  223  will be made with reference to  FIGS. 11-14 . 
     The connector lever  23 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , may assist coupling or decoupling, that is, separation between the male connector  1  and the female connector  2 . 
     The inner seal  24 , shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , may prevent water or foreign substances from flowing into between the case  21  and the cap body  111 . The inner seal  24  may be in a ring shape and may surround the case  21 . For example, the inner seal  24  may surround the center portion of the case  21 . As another example, the inner seal  24  may be provided inside the cap body  111 . The inner seal  24  may be provided between the cap housing  11  and the case  21  in a state in which the male connector  1  and the female connector  2  are coupled. The inner seal  24  may be compressed by the inner sidewall of the cap body  111  and an outer sidewall of the case  21 . For example, the inner seal  24  may be an O-ring. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the protection base  141   a  of the protection body  141  may include a protection hole H 3  through which the coupling part  15  passes. A shape of the protection hole H 3  may correspond to a shape of the coupling part  15 . For example, two coupling parts  15  may be provided to face each other inside the protection sidewall portion  141   b . Also, two protection guides  144  may be provided between the two coupling parts  15 . However, it is provided as an example only and a number of coupling parts  15  and a number of protection guides  144  are not limited thereto. The coupling part  15  may be deformed in a direction opposite to a direction in which the coupling protrusion  152  protrudes while the protection body  141  is descending along the coupling part  15 . The protection hole H 3  may be in a shape for avoiding interference with the coupling body  151  and the coupling guide  153  while the coupling part  15  is being deformed. 
       FIG. 11  shows a process in which the locking member  142  and the separation protrusion  223  interact during coupling of the female connector  2  and the male connector  1 .  FIG. 12  shows a process in which the locking member  142  and the separation protrusion  223  interact during decoupling of the female connector  2  and the male connector  1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , while the plug housing  22  is being inserted inward into the protection part  14 , the separation protrusion  223  that protrudes sideward (z-axial direction) from the plug body  221  may pass the locking member  142 . In an initial state, that is, while the protection part  14  is being supported by the connecting part  13 , the locking member  142  may be separate from the inner sidewall of the cap body  111 . Also, the separation protrusion  223  may include an inclined surface on each of a top surface and a bottom surface. According to the above structure, while the plug housing  22  is inserted inward into the protection part  14 , the separation protrusion  223  may deform the locking member  142  to the outer side and the plug body  221  may descend. As the plug housing  22  is provided inside the cap housing  11  in this manner, the protection part  14  may be in close contact with the connecting part  13 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , while the plug housing  22  is being separate from the protection part  14 , the separation protrusion  223  may be stopped by the locking member  142  and thereby elevate the locking member  142 . Since the locking member  142  is supported by the cap guide  114 , deformation of the locking member  142  to the outer side may be limited. While the locking member  142  is being supported by the cap guide  114 , the plug housing  22  and the protection part  14  may move together. When the protection part  14  ascends to be above the distance and the locking member  142  is not supported by the cap guide  114 , the separation protrusion  223  may deform the locking member  142  to the outer side and the plug housing  22  may be separate from the protection part  14 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a process in which the support rod  132  and the mounting protrusion  222  interact during coupling of the female connector  2  and the male connector  1 .  FIG. 14  shows a process in which the support rod  132  and the mounting protrusion  222  interact during coupling of the female connector  2  and the male connector  1 . 
     The plug housing  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , may include the mounting protrusion  222  configured to protrude from the plug body  221  and to be capable of deforming the support rod  132 . The mounting protrusion  222  may protrude from the plug body  221  and may deform the support rod  132  during a process in which the plug body  221  inserts inward into the protection part  14 , such that the protection part  14  may descend toward the connecting part  13 . The mounting protrusion  222  may include, for example, an inclined surface on each of a top surface and a bottom surface. The mounting protrusion  222  may deform the support rod  132  to the outer side while the plug body  221  is sliding along the inner side of the protection part  14 . When the support rod  132  is deformed by the mounting protrusion  222 , the support rod  132  may not support the protection part  14  and the protection part  14  may descend and may be in close contact with the connecting part  13 . The mounting protrusion  222  may include an inclined part on each on an upper side and a lower side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the slider body  161  may include a slider hole  161   a  to avoid interference with the cap protrusion  113 . The slider hole  161   a  may be formed in a direction in which the slider body  161  slides. The cap protrusion  113  may penetrate the slider body  161  and be deformed due to interference with the connecting body  131  while the connecting part  13  is being mounted to the cap housing  11  as shown in  FIG. 16 . When the connecting part  13  is fully mounted to the cap housing  11 , the cap protrusion  113  may return to an original state and may prevent the connecting part  13  from being separate from the cap housing  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , a connecting part  33  may include a connecting body  331  and a support rod  332 . A protection part  34  may include a protection body  341  and a locking member  342 . A coupling part  35  may couple the protection part  34  and the connecting part  33  in such a manner that the coupling part  35  protrudes from the protection body  341  and is stopped by the connecting body  331 . Also, the coupling part  35  may protrude from the protection part  34  and may prevent the connecting part  33  from being separate from the protection part  34 . The coupling part  35  may be formed on an edge of the protection body  341 . Each of a plurality of coupling parts  35  may be mounted to a different portion of the connecting part  33 . A bottom surface of the coupling part  35  may include an inclined surface. The coupling part  35  may be deformed to an outer side while the connecting part  33  and the protection part  34  are being coupled, and may return to an original state when the connecting part  33  moves along the protection part  34  by a desired (or, alternatively, predetermined) distance. The user may couple the connecting part  33  and the protection part  34  by sliding the connecting part  33  along the protection part  34 . Although the connecting part  33  and the protection part  34  are coupled through the coupling part  35 , the connecting part  33  and the protection part  34  may relatively move by a desired (or, alternatively, predetermined) distance. 
     A number of example embodiments have been described above. Nevertheless, it should be understood that various modifications may be made to these example embodiments. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.