Patent Publication Number: US-9899769-B2

Title: Connector with an operating member mountable in either of two opposite orientations and locks for locking the operating member at an initial position and a connection position in either orientation

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-151682 discloses a connector with male and female housings that are connectable to each other, and a slider movably mounted on the female housing. The slider includes a coupling plate and two sliding plates to define a U-shape. The sliding plate has a cam groove. The male housing includes a receptacle, and follower pins stand on outer surfaces of the receptacle. The female housing includes a tower, a skirt arranged on the outer periphery of the tower, and covers arranged at upper and lower sides of the skirt. Insertion paths are provided between the covers and the skirt for receiving the sliding plates of the slider. 
     Prior to the connection of the housings, the sliding plates are inserted laterally into the insertion paths and the slider is held at a retracted position. Subsequently, the receptacle is fit shallowly between the skirt and the tower of the female housing so that the follower pins enter the entrances of the cam grooves. The slider then is pushed toward an advanced position. Thus, the follower pins slide along edges of the cam grooves, and a cam mechanism acts between the slider and the male housing so that a connecting operation of the housings proceeds. The housings are connected properly when the slider reaches the advanced position and the follower pins reach ends of the cam grooves. 
     The slider moves from one lateral side (right side as shown) toward the other lateral side (left side as shown) with respect to the female housing so that a cam mechanism is generated between the slider and the male housing. A part of the slider including the coupling plate projects a large distance toward the one lateral side of the housing when the slider is at the retracted position. Thus, a peripheral component at the one lateral side of the housing could interfere with the coupling portion of the slider, thereby affecting the ability to use this design. 
     It is possible to use a connector with a slider that is oriented oppositely with respect to the female housing to achieve the cam mechanism. Further, the connector could be designed so that the slider is selectively movable in either of two opposite moving directions and to be mounted replaceably on the housing for movement in a selected one of these two directions. This enables components to be shared and enhances versatility. However, a connector that enables a slider to be mounted replaceably and reversibly on the housing can be very complicated in view of the need to have locking means for keeping the slider at the retracted position and at a standby position for each optional mounting orientation. More particularly, covers are present outside the slider, and a mold removal structure of a mold for molding the locking means may become complicated and difficult. In a worst case, there is a problem of being unable to provide the locking means. 
     The invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to simplify the structure of locking means while enabling an operating member linearly movable with respect to a housing to be selectively mounted in directions opposite to each other. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to a connector with a housing connectable to a mating housing. The connector has an operating member that is movable linearly from an initial position to a connection position along the housing. The operating member is configured to generate a cam action with respect to the mating housing for urging the housing and the mating housing together or apart in response to movement of the operating member. A moving direction of the operating member from an initial position toward a connection position with respect to the housing is selectable from directions along a first movement path and a second movement path that are opposite to each other. The housing includes a first lock and a second lock at positions line-symmetrical with respect to a center of a length along the moving direction of the operating member. The first lock locks and holds the operating member at the initial position and the second lock locks and holds the operating member at the connection position when the operating member is moved along the first movement path. Alternatively, the second lock locks and holds the operating member at the initial position and the first lock locks and holds the operating member at the connection position when the operating member is moved along the second movement path. 
     The first or second movement path for the operating member is selected based on an installation situation and the like so that utility of the connector can be enhanced. 
     Locking the operating member at the initial position and the connection position is achieved by the first and second locks regardless of the mounting orientation. Thus, the locks need not be doubled as in the above-described prior art, and thus the structure can be simplified. 
     Note that an operating member of an embodiment to be described later has an assembled position beside the initial position and the connection position. However, in the case of the invention, the operating member may not have the assembled position. 
     The operating member may include a long groove that extends linearly in the moving direction of the operating member. The housing may include a support shaft in the center of the length along the moving direction of the operating member. The support shaft may be inserted into the long groove and may slide in contact with the long groove while being displaced with respect to the long groove during the movement of the operating member. According to this configuration, a movement of the operating member is guided by engagement of the long groove and the support shaft. Thus, unlike the prior art, covers are not required to cover the operating member from outside, and a mold removal structure need not be complicated when the first and second locks are molded on an outer surface of the housing. 
     The first and second locks may be resilient locks that lock an edge of the long groove. According to this configuration, the long groove performs functions of guiding a movement of the operating member and restricting the movement of the operating member. Thus, the structure can be simplified as compared to the case where separate parts are provided for these two functions. 
     The first and second lock portions may be resilient locks and deflectable and deformable toward a space portion provided in the housing, and the mating housing may include a prying preventing protrusion which interferes with a wall surface of the housing to restrict the connecting operation when the mating housing is improperly connected in an oblique orientation with respect to the housing while entering the space portion and being arranged side by side with the resilient locks and capable of restricting the deflection of the resilient locks when the mating housing is properly connected to the housing. According to this configuration, since the space portion provided in the housing is effectively utilized as an entrance space for the prying preventing protrusion, the space portion needs not become a dead space. Further, since the prying preventing protrusion has both a function of preventing prying connection of the both housings and a function of restricting inadvertent deflection of the resilient locks, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated structural part for each function and a structure can be simplified. 
     A pair of the prying preventing protrusions may be provided on both side parts of the mating housing in a long side direction to correspond to the first and second lock portions. If the pair of prying preventing protrusions are provided on the both side parts of the mating housing in the long side direction in this way, even if the mating housing is in an arbitrary oblique orientation when the both housings are improperly connected, the connecting operation can be effectively restricted and reliability in preventing prying connection can be enhanced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a connector of one embodiment of the present invention showing a state where an operating member is arranged at an assembled position with respect to a housing. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a state where the operating member is arranged at an initial position with respect to the housing and facing a mating housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a section along X-X of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view showing the state where the operating member is arranged at the initial position with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 5  is a section along Y-Y of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a view, corresponding to  FIG. 5 , showing a state where the mating housing is shallowly connected and a resilient piece and a lock receiving portion are unlocked by an unlocking portion of the mating housing. 
         FIG. 7  is a view, corresponding to  FIG. 5 , showing a state where the operating member is arranged at a connection position with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing the state where the operating member is arranged at the connection position with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view showing a state where the operating member is arranged at the initial position in an orientation opposite to that in  FIG. 2  with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view showing a state where the operating member is arranged at the connection position in an orientation opposite to that in  FIG. 8  with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of the housing. 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the housing. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the housing. 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of the operating member. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the operating member. 
         FIG. 16  is a section along Z-Z of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a plan view of a housing in a connector of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the housing in the connector of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a back view of the housing in the connector of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the connector of the second embodiment showing a state where an operating member is arranged at an initial position with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view of the connector of the second embodiment showing a state where the operating member is arranged at a connection position with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 22  is a back view of the connector of the second embodiment showing the state where the operating member is arranged at the initial position with respect to the housing. 
         FIG. 23  is a front view of a mating housing in the connector of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a side view in section showing a state where the both housings are properly connected in the connector of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 16 . A connector of this first embodiment includes a housing  10  and an operating member  11 . The housing  10  is connectable to a mating housing  12 . Note that, in the following description, surfaces of the housings  10 ,  12  facing each other at the start of connection are referred to as front ends concerning a front-rear direction. A vertical direction is based on  FIG. 13  and a side in front of the plane of  FIG. 1  is an upper side. Further, a lateral direction is based on  FIG. 1 . 
     The mating housing  12  is made of synthetic resin and includes a rectangular tubular receptacle  13  that is long and narrow in the lateral direction, as shown in  FIG. 2  Cylindrical cam followers  14  project on laterally central parts of inner surfaces of upper and lower walls. A rib-like unlocking portion  15  is provided on one lateral end part of the inner surface of each of the upper and lower walls and extends in the front-rear direction. Tabs of unillustrated male terminal fittings project in the receptacle  13 . 
     The housing  10  is made of synthetic resin and includes a rectangular block-shaped housing body  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 . The housing body  16  is a long in the lateral direction and can fit in the receptacle  13 . Cavities  17  penetrate through the housing body  16  in the front-rear direction, as shown in  FIG. 13 . The cavities  17  are arranged side by side in a width direction in upper and lower stages, and unillustrated female terminal fittings are inserted and held therein. The female terminal fitting is crimped and connected to an end part of an unillustrated wire and is connected conductively to the mating male terminal fitting when the housings  10 ,  12  are connected properly. 
     Cylindrical support shafts  18  project in laterally central parts of upper and lower surfaces (surfaces along a long side direction) of the housing body  16 . Each support shaft  18  includes jaws  19  that protrude radially from a tip area of a cylindrical part. The jaws  19  are on the tip area of the cylindrical part while being spaced apart in a circumferential direction. Specifically, the jaws  19  are rectangular in a plan view and are arranged at intervals of 90° to the front, rear, left and right of the tip part of the cylindrical part. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a flat laterally-extending space  21  penetrates in the front-rear direction through an upper end part of the housing body  16  above the respective cavities  17 , and a flat plate-like thin wall  22  extends laterally to close an upper side of the space  21 . The interior of the space  21  is divided by separation walls  23  on left and right sides. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , cutout grooves  24  are provided on left and right end parts of the thin wall  22 . The grooves  24  extend in the front-rear direction and open on a rear end while communicating with the space  21 . An inner edge part of each cutout groove  24  is continuous with a surface of the separation wall  23 . Plate pieces are provided inside the grooves  24  on left and right ends of the thin wall  22  and are cantilevered rearward from front ends to define resilient locks  25 ,  26  that are deflectable and deformable in the vertical direction with the front ends serving as supports. 
     As described later, the resilient locks  25 ,  26  function to lock and hold the operating member  11  on the housing  10  in a movement restricted state, and are composed of a first lock  25  (right side of  FIG. 11 ) and a second lock  26  (left side of  FIG. 11 ). The first and second locks  25 ,  26  are line-symmetrically shaped and are at line-symmetrical positions across a laterally central part of the housing body  16  where the support shafts  18  are located. Note that, in the following description, unless it is particularly necessary to distinguish the first and second locks  25 ,  26 , the first and second locks  25 ,  26  are referred to collectively as the resilient locks  25 ,  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , rear ends of the plate pieces of the resilient locks  25 ,  26  are retracted forward from the rear end of the housing  10 . Lock projections  27  project up on rear tip parts of the plate pieces of the resilient locks  25 ,  26 . Each lock projection  27  is circular in a plan view and has tapered slopes  28  inclined up toward a tip in a projecting direction on rear, left and right surfaces. The lock projections  27  are arranged laterally side by side at the same position as the support shafts  18  in the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , excessive deflection restricting pieces  29  are provided on the tip parts of the plate pieces of the resilient locks  25 ,  26  and project down in the space  21 . The excessive deflection restricting piece  29  is composed of a vertical part hanging down from the plate piece and a horizontal part bent at a right angle from the lower end of the vertical part toward the separation wall  23  to define an L-shaped in a front view. 
     An excessive deflection restriction receiving piece  31  projects above the horizontal part of the excessive deflection restricting piece  29  on the surface of the separation wall  23 . The excessive deflection restriction receiving piece  31  is at a predetermined distance from and in parallel to the excessive deflection restricting piece  29 . The resilient lock  25 ,  26  is deflected and deformed up and the excessive deflection restricting piece  29  comes into contact with the excessive deflection restriction receiving piece  31  from below, thereby restricting any further deflection of the resilient lock  25 ,  26 . Thus, even if the resilient lock  25 ,  26  is caught by external matter, such as a looped wire, it is possible to avoid a situation where the resilient lock  25 ,  26  is turned out and broken. Note that, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a side edge part of a tip part of the resilient lock  25 ,  26  on the side of the separation wall  23  is cut due to the molding of the excessive deflection restriction receiving piece  31 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a lock receiving portion  32  is provided on one lateral end of both upper and lower surfaces of the housing body  16 . Two of the lock receiving portions  32  are point-symmetrically shaped and are arranged at point-symmetrical positions with respect to an axial center when the housing body  16  is viewed from the front. As shown in  FIG. 11 , each lock receiving portion  32  includes a rib-like part extending in the front-rear direction and is in front of and laterally to the resilient locks  25 ,  26  (right side of  FIG. 11 ). A space into which the unlocking portion  15  of the mating housing  12  is inserted when the housings  10 ,  12  are connected is secured laterally to the lock receiving portion  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 , the lock receiving portion  32  has a receiving piece  33  bent to protrude rearward and laterally on a rear end of a tip of the rib-like part in a projecting direction. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an insertion recess  34  is defined between the receiving piece  33  and the rib-like part and receives a locking projection  49  of the operating member  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , stoppers  35  in the form of plate pieces extending in the front-rear direction are provided on the other lateral end part of each of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing body  16 . The stoppers  35  are point-symmetrically shaped at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the housing body  16 . Additionally, the stoppers  35  are longer in the front-rear direction than the lock receiving portions  32  and are arranged on side surfaces of the housing body  16 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The rear end of the stopper  35  protrudes vertically and is arranged perpendicularly, as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the operating member  11  reaches an initial position, to be described later, the operating member  11  can be stopped in contact with the stopper  35 . 
     The operating member  11  is made of synthetic resin, includes a coupling  36  and two arms  37  that project parallel to each other from ends of the coupling  36  to define a U-shape, as shown in  FIG. 15 . The operating member  11  is successively displaceable, with respect to the housing  10 , to an assembled position (see  FIG. 1 ) where the arms  37  project obliquely rearward at an angle of inclination of about 45° with respect to the front-rear direction and the lateral direction, the initial position (see  FIG. 2 ) where the arms  37  project laterally of the housing  10  along the lateral direction and a connection position (see  FIG. 8 ) where the arms  37  project slightly laterally of the housing  10  along the lateral direction or are arranged substantially without projecting. 
     The operating member  11  includes a rotating mechanism configured to rotationally displace the operating member  11  from the assembled position to the initial position with respect to the housing  10  to gradually increase a laterally projecting amount toward the initial position and a sliding mechanism configured to linearly move and displace the operating member  11  in the lateral direction along the housing  10  from the initial position to the connection position to gradually decrease the laterally projecting amount toward the connection position. Further, a movement path of the operating member  11  can be selected from a first movement path (see an arrow A of  FIG. 2 ) along which the operating member  11  moves from the side of the first lock  25  toward the side of the second lock  26  and a second movement path (see an arrow B of  FIG. 9 ) along which the operating member  11  vertically inverted from a moving posture along the first movement path moves from the side of the second lock  26  toward the side of the first lock  25  when the operating member  11  is moved toward the connection position by the sliding mechanism. 
     The coupling  36  is a plate piece extending in the vertical direction and an operator can grip the coupling portion  36  by the fingers. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , a side of each of the arms  37  distant from the coupling portion  36  defines a body in the form of a flat plate expanded in the front-rear direction, and a cam groove  38  is provided in the body. The cam groove  38  is a curved bottomed groove formed by recessing an outer surface of the body of the arm  37  that is open on the front end edge of the body. The cam groove  38  is engaged with the cam follower  14  of the mating housing  12  to generate the connecting operation of the housings  10 ,  12  when the operating member  11  moves between the initial position and the connection position. 
     A linearly extending long groove  39  is provided in an area of the body of each of the arms  37  behind the cam groove  38 . The long groove  39  penetrates through the arm  37  in a plate thickness direction and is arranged along the lateral direction when the operating member  11  is at the initial position and the connection position. The support shaft  18  is inserted into the long groove  39  and slides in contact with an engaging edge  44  of the long groove  39  to guide a moving operation of the operating member  11  when the operating member  11  moves between the initial position and the connection position. 
     The long groove  39  receives the support shaft  18  at an end  41  distant from the coupling  36  (see  FIG. 1 ) and can slide in contact with the support shaft  18  in an extending portion  42  linearly extending from the end  41  toward the coupling  36 . The engaging edge  44  is provided on an inner part (part on the side of the housing body  16 ) of the edge of the long groove  39  in the plate thickness direction of the arm  37  and protrudes over the entire periphery except at escaping recesses  45  to be described later. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the engaging edge  44  protrudes slightly less than the jaws  19  of the support shaft  18 . This engaging edge  44  slides in contact with the jaws  19  of the support shaft  18  inserted into the long groove  39  from inside except at the initial position and acts to restrict outward expanding opening deformation of the arm  37 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 14 , the end portion  41  of the long groove  39  is provided with the escaping recesses  45  by partially cutting off the engaging edge  44 . The escaping recesses  45  have such a rectangular or triangular cross-sectional shape that the jaws  19  can fit inside. When the operating member  11  is at the assembled position and the arms  37  are oriented to be obliquely inclined at 45°, the escaping recesses  45  are open at intervals of 90° on front, rear, left and right sides of the engaging edge  44 . 
     As shown in FIG. the guide groove  46  is provided on the inner surface of the body of each of the arm portions  37  and is shallower than the cam groove  38 . The lock projection  27  of the resilient lock  25 ,  26  is inserted into the guide groove  46  and slides in contact with the guide groove  46  when the operating member  11  is rotated between the assembled position and the initial position. The guide groove  46  is curved along an arc centered on a center of rotation of the operating member  11 . 
     A bottomed escaping groove  47  is provided in an inner surface of a plate piece that connects the body and the coupling  36  in each of the arms  37 . The escaping groove  47  is at the same position as the long groove  39  in the front-rear direction, extends laterally and is open on the front edge of the plate piece of the arm  37 . The lock projection  27  of the resilient lock  25 ,  26  is inserted into the escaping groove  47  to escape when the operating member  11  moves between the initial position and the connection position. 
     A resilient piece  48  is provided on one  37  of the arms  37  projecting laterally (toward a side where the coupling  36  is located) along a plate surface of the arm  37  from an outer edge of the body. The resilient piece  48  is in the form of a beam supported on both ends coupled to the body of the arm  37 , thinner than the body of the arm  37  and is curved into a U shape. The claw-like locking projection  49  projects forward on a tip part (U-shaped central part) of the resilient piece  48  in a projecting direction. 
     Next, functions of the connector are described. 
     The operating member  11  can be transported to a connector connecting operation site in a state where the operating member  11  and the housing  10  are separated without the operating member  11  being mounted on the housing  10 . At the connecting operation site, the female terminal fittings are inserted into the cavities  17  of the housing  10  and, subsequently, the operating member  11  is assembled with the housing  10  at the assembled position (see  FIG. 1 ). In assembling, the operating member  11  is pushed to straddle the housing  10  from an oblique rear side. Then, after the both arms  37  are expanded, the escaping recesses  45  of the long grooves  39  pass through the jaws  19  of the support shafts  18  and the support shafts  18  are fit into the ends  41  of the long grooves  39 . 
     When the operating member  11  reaches the assembled position, the lock projection  27  of the first lock  25  is inserted into the guide groove  46  of the arm  37 . At this time, the lock projection  27  contacts a front end part of the guide groove  46 , thereby restricting a rotational displacement of the operating member  11  in a direction opposite to that toward the initial position (see  FIG. 1 ). Note that the operator can continuously perform a series of operations while gripping the coupling  36  of the operating member  11 . 
     Subsequently, the operating member  11  is rotated clockwise in  FIG. 1  from the assembled position toward the initial position about the support shafts  18  inserted into the ends  41  of the long grooves  39 . While the operating member  11  is rotated, the rear slope  28  of the lock projection  27  slides in contact with the back surface of the guide groove  36  and the first lock  25  is deflected and deformed. Large resistance is not applied to the operating member  11  from the side of the housing  10 . Further, as the operating member  11  is rotated from the assembled position toward the initial position, the engaging edges  44  of the long grooves  39  slide in contact with the jaws  19  of the support shafts  18  from inside, thereby restricting the detachment of the arms  37  from the support shafts  18 . 
     When the operating member  11  reaches the initial position, the first lock  25  is displaced resiliently in a return direction and the lock projection  27  is inserted into the other end  43  of the long groove  39  from the guide groove  46  (see  FIG. 3 ). The engaging edge  44  of the long groove  39  contacts the lock projection  27  from the front, thereby restricting the rotation of the operating member  11  in the return direction toward the assembled position. Further, the plate piece of the arm  37  on the other side (side where the resilient piece  48  is not provided) is stopped in contact with the rear end of the stopper  35 , thereby restricting rotation of the operating member  11  beyond the initial position (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     Further, when the operating member  11  reaches the initial position, the locking projection  49  of the resilient piece  48  is arranged to come laterally into contact with the rear end of the rib-like part of the lock receiving portion  32 , thereby restricting a movement of the operating member  11  from the initial position toward the connection position (see  FIG. 5 ). At this time, the locking projection  49  of the resilient piece  48  is inserted into the insertion recess  34  at an inner side of the receiving piece  33  (see  FIG. 4 ). In this way, the receiving piece  33  protects the locking projection  49  so that external mater cannot interfere with the locking projection  49  to inadvertently unlock the locking projection  49  from the lock receiving portion  32 . Further, the support shafts  18  are kept inserted in the ends  41  of the long grooves  39  and are arranged to contact the ends  41  at the initial position. Thus, a movement of the operating member  11  away from the connection position also is restricted (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     In the above state, the receptacle  13  of the mating housing  12  is fit shallowly to the housing  10  so that the cam followers  14  enter the cam grooves  38  (see  FIG. 6 ). Further, the unlocking portion  15  presses the tip part of the resilient piece  48  in the projecting direction and deflects the resilient piece  48  to incline rearward while extending along a plate surface direction of the arm  37 . In this way, the locking projection  49  is separated from the rib-like part of the receiving piece  32  to unlock the resilient piece  48  and the receiving piece  32  from each other and to enable the operating member  11  to be displaced to the connection position. Further, deflecting and deforming the resilient piece  48  along the inner surface of the receiving piece  33  avoids interference of the resilient piece  48  and the receiving piece  33 . 
     Subsequently, the operating member  11  is moved linearly toward the connection position (side where the second lock  26  is located) along the first movement path. In an initial stage of the movement of the operating member  11  toward the connection position, the arm  37  slides on the lateral slope  28  of the lock projection  27  and the first lock  25  is deflected and deformed inward. When the operating member  11  is moved farther toward the connection position, the lock projection  27  enters the escaping groove  47  and escapes so that the first lock  25  returns resiliently to a natural state. 
     In the process of moving the operating member  11  along the first movement path, the support shafts  18  are displaced relative to the long grooves  39  in a direction away from the ends  41  and the jaws  19  at the front, and rear sides of the support shafts  18  slide in contact with the engaging edges  44  of the long grooves  39  from outside, thereby guiding a movement of the operating member  11 . Further, in the process of moving the operating member  11 , the cam followers  14  of the mating housing  12  slide in contact with the edges of the cam grooves  38 , a cam mechanism acts between the operating member  11  and the mating housing  12  and the connecting operation of the housings  10 ,  12  proceeds with a low connecting force. During this time, the arms  37  of the operating member  11  may expand and deform out and away from the outer surfaces of the housing body  16  by receiving connection resistance. However, the engaging edges  44  of the long grooves  39  of this embodiment contact the front and rear jaws  19  from inside, thereby restricting expanding movements of the arms  37 . As a result, the arms  37  cannot expand and detach from the housing  10 . 
     In a stage immediately before the operating member  11  reaches the connection position, the tip of the arm  37  in a moving direction slides on the lateral slope  28  of the lock projection  27  of the second lock  26  and the second lock  26  deflects inward. When the operating member  11  reaches the connection position, the second lock  26  resiliently displaces in a return direction and the lock projection  27  is inserted into the end portion  41  of the long groove  39  from inside (see  FIG. 8 ). At this time, the lock projection  27  contacts the end  41  of the long groove  39  in the lateral direction (moving direction along the first movement path), thereby restricting a movement of the operating member  11  in the return direction toward the initial position. Further, when the operating member  11  reaches the connection position, the support shafts  18  are arranged to contact the other end portions  43  of the long grooves  39  and the coupling  36  is arranged to contact the side surface of the housing  10 , thereby restricting any further movement of the operating member  11  beyond the connection position. Furthermore, the lock projection  27  of the second lock  26  is arranged in the end  41  of the long groove  39  and the support shaft  18  is arranged in the other end  43  of the long groove  39 , thereby restricting a rotational displacement of the operating member  11 . At the connection position, the cam followers  14  are in final end parts of the cam grooves  38  and the housings  10 ,  12  are connected properly. 
     A situation may arise in which the operating member  11  cannot be moved along the first movement path due to an interfering object, such as a peripheral component, lateral to (right side of  FIG. 2 ) the housing  10 , and the coupling  36  or the like of the operating member  11  at the initial position may interfere with the interfering object. In this situation, the operating member  11  can be moved along the second movement path opposite to the first movement path. 
     In this case, the operating member  11  is inverted vertically and the coupling  36  is arranged to be on a side (left side of  FIG. 9 ) opposite to that when the operating member  11  is moved along the first movement path with respect to the housing  10 . First, the operating member  11  is assembled at the assembled position. At the assembled position, the lock projection  27  of the second lock  26  is inserted into the guide groove  46  of the arm  37  and contacts the front end of the guide groove  46  to restrict rotation of the operating member  11  in the direction opposite to that toward the initial position. 
     Subsequently, the operating member  11  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the support shafts  18  from the assembled position toward the initial position. When the operating member  11  reaches the initial position, the lock projection  27  of the second lock  26  is inserted resiliently into the other end  43  of the long groove  39  from inside and the engaging edge  44  of the long groove  39  contacts the lock projection  27  from the front, thereby restricting a return displacement of the operating member  11  to the assembled position. Further, the plate piece of the arm  37  on the other side (where the resilient piece  48  is not provided) is stopped in contact with the rear end of the stopper  35 , thereby restricting further rotation of the operating member  11  beyond the initial position (see  FIG. 9 ). Furthermore, the locking projection  49  of the resilient piece  48  locks the lock receiving portion  32  to restrict movement of the operating member  11  to the connection position. In this case, the locking projection  49  locks the lock receiving portion  32  on the lower surface (surface where the resilient locks  25 ,  26  are not provided) of the housing  10  on a side opposite to that when the first movement path is selected. Further, the stopper  35  to be stopped in contact with the arm  37  at the initial position is provided on the lower surface of the housing  10  when the first movement path is selected while being provided on the upper surface of the housing  10  when the second movement path is selected. 
     Subsequently, the housings  10 ,  12  are connected shallowly and the cam followers  14  enter the cam grooves  38 . Then, the resilient piece  48  is pressed by the unlocking portion  15  and deflected and deformed rearward to move away from the lock receiving portion  32 , thereby enabling the operating member  11  to be moved to the connection position. Subsequently, the operating member  11  is moved linearly toward the connection position (side where the first lock  25  is located) along the second movement path. When the operating member  11  reaches the connection position, the lock projection  27  of the first lock  25  is inserted resiliently into the end  41  of the long groove  39  from inside, and the end  41  of the long groove  39  contacts the lock projection  27  in a return direction to the initial position, thereby restricting a return movement of the operating member  11  to the initial position (see  FIG. 10 ). Further, the lock projection  27  of the second lock  26  is inserted into the escaping groove  47  of the arm  37  and allowed to escape. 
     As just described, locking functions of the first and second locks  25 ,  26  at each of the initial position and the connection position are alternated when the operating member  11  is moved along the first movement path and when the operating member  11  is moved along the second movement path, but the locking functions themselves are the same. 
     Each of the following effects can be achieved by this embodiment. 
     The operating member  11  is rotated from the assembled position to the initial position and the laterally projecting amount of the housing  10  is suppressed more at the assembled position than at the initial position. Thus, the operating member  11  is less likely to interfere with external matter intruding to a lateral side of the housing  10  at the assembled position. On the other hand, since a transition is made from the rotating operation by the rotating mechanism to the linearly moving operation by the sliding mechanism at the initial position, the operating member  11  does not stay long at the initial position and is less likely to interfere with external matter also at the initial position. As a result, the operating member  11  is not likely to be moved inadvertently from the initial position to the connection position or broken due to interference with external matter. 
     Further, the arms  37  of the operating member  11  are not covered from outside by members such as conventional covers, but the expanding movements are suppressed by the contact of the engaging edges  44  of the long grooves  39  with the jaws  19  of the support shafts  18  to prevent detachment from the housing  10 . Omitting the conventional covers avoids enlargement of the housing  10 . This is ensured by arranging the operating member  11  exposed on the outer surfaces without being covered by the housing  10 . 
     Further, the operating member  11  is moved linearly from the initial position to the connection position and either one of the first and second movement paths can be selected as the movement path to the connection position. Thus, the movement path of the operating member  11  can be determined depending on an installation situation and usefulness is enhanced. In addition, the locking means for keeping the operating member  11  at the initial position and the connection position are realized by the first lock  25  and the second lock  26  and four locking means corresponding to each movement path and each position are not provided. Thus, a structure can be simplified. In this case, members such as the conventional covers to cover the operating member  11  are not present on the outer surfaces of the housing  10 . Therefore, a mold removal structure to mold the first and second locks  25 ,  26  on the outer surface of the housing  10  need not be complicated. 
     The engaging edges  44  of the long grooves  39  slide in contact with the support shafts  18  to guide a movement of the operating member  11 . The long grooves  39  linearly guide a movement of the operating member  11 , restrict a movement of the operating member  11  by being locked by the resilient locks  25 ,  26 , and suppress opening deformation of the operating member  11  by causing the jaws  19  of the support shafts  18  to contact the engaging edges  44 . Thus, as compared to the case where each function is provided individually, the structure of the operating member  11  can be simplified. 
     The resilient lock  25 ,  26  restricts a displacement of the operating member  11  in the direction opposite to that from the assembled position toward the initial position by locking the lock projection  27  to the front end part of the guide groove  46  when the operating member  11  is at the assembled position and restricts a displacement of the operating member  11  in the return direction from the initial position to the assembled position by locking the lock projection  27  to the other end  43  of the long groove  39  when the operating member  11  is at the initial position. Thus, the operating member  11  is locked and held to the resilient lock  25 ,  26  both at the initial position and at the assembled position and it is not necessary to provide the locking structure for each of the initial position and the assembled position so that the structure can be more simplified. 
     The unlocking portion  15  of the mating housing  12  presses the resilient piece  48  when the operating member  11  is at the initial position. Thus, the resilient piece  48  is deflected along the plate surface of the arm  37  to be unlocked from the lock receiving portion  32  and the operating member  11  can displace toward the connection position. In this case, a locking margin of the resilient piece  48  to the lock receiving portion  32  is determined in the direction along the plate surface of the arm  37 , freedom in setting the locking margin is high and a sufficiently large locking margin can be set. As a result, the locking strength of the operating member  11  at the initial position can be enhanced. 
     Further, the resilient piece  48  is a beam supported on both ends coupled to the body of the arm  37 , external matter such as a looped wire is less likely to be caught by the arm  37  and the deflection strength of the arm  37  can be enhanced. 
     Further, since the lock receiving portions  32  to be locked by the resilient piece  48  are provided on the outer surfaces of the housing  10  and members such as the conventional covers are not present on the outer surfaces of the housing  10 , a mold removal structure in molding the lock receiving portions  32  needs not be complicated. 
       FIGS. 17 to 24  show a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in partial structures of a housing  10 A and an operating member  11 A, but has a basic structure common to the first embodiment. Further, a structure of a mating housing  12  is embodied. Note that, in the following description, parts identical or equivalent to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs or the same reference signs with A at the end and repeated description is omitted. 
     A receptacle  13  of a mating housing  12  includes a back wall  51  substantially extending along a vertical direction and a lateral direction as shown in  FIG. 23 . A plurality of mating male terminal fittings  52  are mounted through the back wall  51 . As shown in  FIG. 24 , each male terminal fitting  52  is long and narrow and bent into an L shape in a side view, and includes a terminal connecting portion  53  extending in a front-rear direction and penetrating through the back wall  51  and a board connecting portion  54  extending in the vertical direction and to be connected to a connection hole of an unillustrated circuit board. As just described, the mating housing  12  is to be mounted on the circuit board. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the receptacle  13  is provided with a pair of prying preventing protrusions  55  projecting forward from positions near an upper end on both left and right side parts of the back wall  51 . The prying preventing protrusions  55  are arranged on both sides across cam followers  14  and side by side with large-size male terminal fittings  52  between the male terminal fittings  52  arranged in an upper stage. Further, each of the prying preventing protrusions  55  is in the form of a flat plate piece extending in the lateral direction and includes, as shown in  FIG. 24 , a straight portion  56  arranged along a front-rear direction from the back wall  51  to an intermediate position in the front-rear direction in a rear upper surface part and an inclined portion  57  inclined gradually downwardly to the front from the intermediate position in the front-rear direction to a front end part in a front upper surface part. A laterally central part of each of the both prying preventing protrusions  55  includes a lightening groove  58  in a lower surface, which groove extends in the front-rear direction and is open in the rear surface of the back wall  51 . By including the lightening groove  58 , the prying preventing protrusion  55  is formed to have a substantially constant thickness from the straight portion  56  to the inclined portion  57 . The front ends (tips) of the both prying preventing protrusions  55  are arranged to project further forward than the front ends of the respective male terminal fittings  52  in the receptacle  13 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , the mating housing  12  is line-symmetrically formed with a lateral center, where a pair of upper and lower cam followers  14  are located, serving as an axis of symmetry. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , the housing  10 A is also line-symmetrically shaped with a lateral center, where a pair of upper and lower support shafts  18 A are located, serving as an axis of symmetry. Parts equivalent to the lock receiving portions  32  of the first embodiment are not provided on both upper and lower surfaces of a housing body  16 A. Further, jaws  19 A of the support shaft  18 A are provided only on both front and rear sides of a cylindrical part. 
     Two stoppers  35 A are provided on both left and right parts of each of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing body  16 A. As shown in  FIG. 17 , each stopper  35 A is in the form of a plate extending in the front-rear direction along a side surface of the housing body  16 A and includes a receiving end portion  59  bent toward a laterally central side on a rear end part. The rear surface of the receiving end portion  59  is arranged along the lateral direction and a lateral length is longer than a lateral dimension of the other part (part excluding the receiving end portion  59 ) of the stopper  35 A. 
     Two cutout grooves  24 A are provided at each of both left and right sides across the support shaft  18 A on the upper surface of the housing body  16 A. As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 19 , each cutout groove  24 A extends in the front-rear direction while having a constant width and a constant depth and is open in the form of a slit extending in the vertical direction in the rear surface of the housing body  16 A. 
     Resilient locks  25 A,  26 A are arranged between the corresponding pair of cutout grooves  24 A in a first lock  25 A and a second lock  26 A on both left and right side parts of the housing body  16 A. The resilient locks  25 A,  26 A define spaces  21 A located therebelow. Each space  21 A communicates with each cutout groove  24 A and is defined also by a front part of an upper wall and an upper part of a rear wall of the housing body  16 A and, as shown in  FIG. 18 , forms an opening having a rectangular cross-section in the front surface of the housing body  16 A. The spaces  21 A are arranged at positions corresponding to the prying preventing protrusions  55  of the mating housing  12  in the both left and right side parts of the housing body  16 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , the resilient lock  25 A,  26 A is formed such that a front end is connected to the front part of the upper wall of the housing body  16 A without any step and a rear end is inclined down to the rear and connected to the upper part of the rear wall of the housing body  16 A. Thus, the resilient lock  25 A,  26 A is supported on both ends and deflectable and deformable toward the space  21 A with both front and rear ends serving as supporting points of deflection, and differ from those of the first embodiment that are cantilevered. The resilient lock  25 A,  26 A has no excessive deflection restricting piece  29  (see  FIG. 13 ) and no excessive deflection restriction receiving piece  31  projects into the space  21 . An excessive deflection restricting structure replacing the excessive deflection restricting pieces  29  and excessive deflection restriction receiving pieces  31  is realized by the prying preventing protrusions  55  as described later. 
     Unlike the first embodiment, the space  21 , the thin wall  22  and the separation walls  23  are not formed in a laterally central side of an upper part of the housing body  16 A. In the case of the second embodiment, the spaces  21 A are formed only at positions corresponding to the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A. As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , large-size cavities  17 B capable of accommodating unillustrated large-size female terminal fittings are provided laterally side by side at positions corresponding to the mating large-size male terminal fittings  52 B in a laterally central part and both left and right end parts of the upper part of the housing body  16 A. The left and right spaces  21 A are arranged side by side with these large-size cavities  17 B between the cavities  17 B. 
     The operating member  11 A includes two arms  37 A each having a cam groove  38  and a long groove  39 A as in the first embodiment, but the arm  37 A is not provided with a part corresponding to the resilient piece  48  (see  FIG. 2 ), as shown in  FIG. 20 . An end  41  of the long groove  39 A is provided with escaping recesses  45 A by cutting an engaging edge portion  44 A obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction. When the operating member  11 A is at an assembled position where the operating member  11 A is oriented obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction, the support shafts  18 A can pass through the escaping recesses  45 A and be fit into the ends  41  of the long grooves  39 A. 
     The arm  37 A includes a strip having the cam groove  38  and the long groove  39 A and extending in the lateral direction toward a coupling portion  36  from an expanded part expanded in the front-rear direction, and a sliding surface  61  slidable on the receiving end portion  59  of the stopper  35 A extends along the lateral direction on the front end of this strip. Further, anti-slip portions  63 ,  64  are provided at positions near the coupling portion  36  of the strips on the outer surfaces of the arms  37 A. As shown in  FIG. 22 , the anti-slip portions  63 ,  64  are composed of ribs  63  extending in the front-rear direction and multistage portions  64  adjacent to the ribs  63  from a side opposite to the coupling portion  36  and cut in a multistage manner on the outer surfaces of the arms  37 A, and function as holds or slip resistance for fingers by being gripped by the fingers of an operator when the operating member  11 A is moved. 
     Next, functions and effects of the second embodiment are described. 
     Prior to a connecting operation of the housings  10 A,  12 , the operating member  11 A is held at an initial position. As shown in  FIG. 20 , at the initial position, a lock projection  27  of the first lock  25 A is in contact with another end  43  of the long groove  39 A, thereby restricting a movement of the operating member  11 A toward a connection position, and the support shafts  18 A are in contact with the ends  41  of the long grooves  39 A, thereby restricting a movement of the operating member  11 A in a direction opposite to a direction toward the connection position, as in the first embodiment. 
     Subsequently, the housing  10 A is fit shallowly into the receptacle  13  of the mating housing  12  together with a front part of the operating member  11 A. In that state, a pushing force toward the connection position is applied to the operating member  11 A to unlock the other end  43  of the long groove  39 A and the lock projection  27  of the first lock  25 A from each other. Subsequently, the operating member  11 A is slid along a first movement path toward the connection position. In the process of moving the operating member  11 A toward the connection position, the support shafts  18 A slide in contact with the engaging edge portions  44 A of the long grooves  39 A and the receiving ends  59  of the stoppers  35 A slide in contact with the sliding surfaces  61  of the arms  37 A to guide a movement of the operating member  11 A. At this time, the lock projection  27  of the first lock  25 A is arranged while being spaced forward of the sliding surface  61  of the arm  37 A. Thus, unlike the first embodiment, the arm  37 A is not provided with a part corresponding to the escaping groove  47  (see  FIG. 7 ) for allowing the lock projection  27  to escape. 
     Further, in the process of moving the operating member  11 A toward the connection position, the cam followers  14  slide in contact with groove surfaces of the cam grooves  38 , whereby the connecting operation of the both housings  10 A,  12  proceeds and the both prying preventing protrusions  55  are respectively inserted into the facing spaces  21 A. Here, if the mating housing  12  is in an oblique orientation inclined from a proper connection orientation with respect to the housing  10 A, the front ends of the both prying preventing protrusions  55  come into contact with the front surface of the housing body  16 A to stop the connecting operation of the housings  10 A,  12 . This prevents the front ends of the terminal connecting portions  53  of the respective male terminal fittings  52  from coming into contact with the front surface of the housing body  16 A, thereby avoiding a situation where the respective male terminal fittings  52  are fractured or broken. 
     Immediately before the operating member  11 A reaches the connection position, the arm  37 A interferes with the lock projection  27  of the second lock  26 A and slides in contact with a slope  28  of the lock projection  27  and the second lock  26 A is deflected and deformed toward the space  21 A. At this time, the second lock  26 A may interfere with the prying preventing protrusion  55  that has entered the space  21 A on the side of this second lock  26 A, but the inclined portion  57  located below the lock projection  27  is shaped obliquely to be retracted in a deflection direction of the second lock  26 A, thereby avoiding the strong interference of the second lock  26 A with the prying preventing protrusion  55 . 
     When the operating member  11 A reaches the connection position, the second lock portion  26 A substantially resiliently returns and the lock projection  27  is inserted into the end  41  of the long groove  39 A. As shown in  FIG. 21 , at the connection position, the lock projection  27  of the second lock  26 A is in contact with the end  41  of the long groove  39 A, thereby restricting a movement of the operating member  11 A in the return direction to the initial position, and the support shafts  18 A are in contact with the other ends  43  of the long grooves  39 A, thereby restricting a movement of the operating member  11 A beyond the connection position, as in the first embodiment. Further, at the connection position, the cam followers  14  reach final end parts of the cam grooves  38 , the housings  10 A,  12  are connected properly, and the male and female terminal fittings are connected properly. 
     The second lock  26 A merely is deflected temporarily and deformed toward the space  21 A while interfering with the arm  37 A immediately before the operating member  11 A reaches the connection position. Thus, even if the second lock  26 A contacts the prying preventing protrusion  55 , no particularly large sliding resistance is generated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , when the operating member  11 A reaches the connection position, the prying preventing protrusions  55  are arranged side by side with the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A (second lock  26 A in the shown case) in the spaces  21 A and the inclined portions  57  are separated from front end parts of the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A, whereas the straight portions  56  are arranged in contact with or in proximity to rear end parts of the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A. Thus, the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A are prevented by the prying preventing protrusions  55  from being largely deflected and deformed toward the spaces  21 A upon receiving an external force such as due to interference with external matter. As a result, the locked state of the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A and the long groove  39 A of the operating member is maintained stably. Further, a situation where the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A are deflected excessively and deformed beyond a resiliency limit can be avoided. Note that, while the operating member  11 A is moving along the above first movement path, the first lock  25 A is held out of interference with the prying preventing protrusion  55  that has entered the space  21 A on the side of this first lock  25 A. Further, the operating member  11 A is moved along a second movement path opposite to the above first movement path and has movements thereof restricted at the initial position and the connection position by a mechanism similar to that of the first embodiment. 
     As described above, according to the second embodiment, the mating housing  12  is provided with the prying preventing protrusions  55 , the prying preventing protrusions  55  interfere with the wall of the housing  10 A to restrict the connecting operation when the mating housing  12  is improperly connected in an oblique orientation with respect to the housing  10 A, whereas the prying preventing protrusions  55  enter the spaces  21 A and are arranged side by side with the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A and can restrict the deflection of the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A when the both housings  10 A,  12  are connected properly. Thus, the spaces  21 A provided in the housing  10 A are utilized as entrance spaces for the prying preventing protrusions  55  and need not become dead spaces. Further, since the prying preventing protrusions  55  have both a function of preventing prying connection of the housings  10 A,  12  and a function of restricting inadvertent deflection of the resilient locks  25 A,  26 A, it is not necessary to provide dedicated structural parts for each function and a structure can be simplified. 
     Further, a long side direction (lateral direction of  FIG. 23 ) of the mating housing  12  is a sliding direction of the operating member  11 A and an arrangement direction of the first and second locks  25 A,  26 A, and the prying preventing protrusions  55  are provided on the side parts of the mating housing  12  in the long side direction to correspond to the first and second locks  25 A,  26 A. Thus, even if the mating housing  12  is in an arbitrary oblique orientation when the housings  10 A,  12  are connected improperly, the connecting operation can be restricted and reliability in preventing prying connection can be enhanced. 
     Other embodiments are briefly described below. 
     Contrary to the above first embodiment, the support shafts may be provided on the inner surfaces of the arms of the operating member, the long grooves may be provided to be open in the outer surfaces of the housing and the support shafts may be inserted into the long grooves from outside to be slidable in contact with the long grooves. 
     The long grooves may have a bottomed shape. 
     The shape and the number of the jaws provided on the support shaft are arbitrary and the escaping recesses may be provided to correspond to the jaws. 
     Wires connected to the female terminal fittings are pulled out rearwardly of the housing and a wire cover may be installed to cover the rear surface of the housing. The support shafts, the lock receiving portions and the resilient locks may be provided on the wire cover. 
     The mating housing may be provided with only one prying preventing protrusion or may be provided with three or more prying preventing protrusions. In the case of providing three or more prying preventing protrusions, the prying preventing protrusions may include the one that does not enter the space. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10 ,  10 A . . . housing 
           11 ,  11 A . . . operating member 
           12  mating housing 
           15  unlocking portion 
           18 ,  18 A . . . support shaft 
           19 ,  19 A . . . jaw 
           21 ,  21 A space 
           25 ,  25 A . . . first lock (resilient lock) 
           26 ,  26 A . . . second lock (resilient lock 
           27  . . . lock projection 
           32  . . . lock receiving portion 
           36  . . . coupling portion 
           37 ,  37 A . . . arm 
           38  . . . cam groove 
           39 ,  39 A . . . long groove 
           41  . . . end of long groove 
           44 ,  44 A . . . engaging edge 
           46  . . . guide groove 
           48  . . . resilient piece 
           49  . . . locking projection