Patent Publication Number: US-9899768-B2

Title: Connector with operating member to assist connection to mating connector and resilient piece to restrict inadvertent displacement of operating member

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a connector. 
     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. A rotary lever is mounted on the female housing for rotation between an initial position and an end position. The male housing includes a receptacle and follower pins project on outer side surfaces of the receptacle. The rotary lever has an operating portion and two legs extend from opposite ends of the operating portion to define a U-shape. The legs are provided with cam grooves into which the follower pins are insertable. Further, the legs are provided with two pairs of holding projections. Each holding projection is deflectable and deformable in a plate thickness direction of the leg in a U-shaped slit formed in the leg. When the rotary lever is at the initial position and at the end position, the holding projections are locked resiliently to held portions provided on a cover that covers the rear surface of the female housing. 
     The rotary lever is kept at the initial position and the receptacle is fit shallowly to the female housing when connecting the housings. Subsequently, a force is applied to move the rotary lever toward the end position. A force of sufficient magnitude will cause the holding projections and the held portions to unlock from each other so that the rotary lever can be rotated to the end position. The follower pins slide along the cam grooves as the rotary lever is rotated to produce a cam mechanism between the rotary lever and the male housing so that a connecting operation of the housings proceeds. 
     Locking or engaging margins between the holding projections and the held portions are determined in the plate-thickness direction of the legs when the rotary lever is at the initial position. Thus, it is difficult to ensure large locking margins due to structural restrictions. For example, the locking strength of the holding projections may be reduced if the connector is miniaturized and the rotary lever may not be held reliably at the initial position. 
     The invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to enhance locking strength of an operating member at an initial position. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is directed to a connector with a housing that is connectable to a mating housing, and an operating member that is displaceable between an initial position and a connection position with respect to the housing. The operating member is configured to generate a cam action with the mating housing as the operating member is rotated. The cam action produces a connecting operation of the housings. A lock receiving portion is provided on an outer surface of the housing. The operating member includes a plate-like arm configured to cover the outer surface of the housing. A resilient piece projects along a plate surface of the arm and is provided on an outer edge of the arm. The resilient piece restricts a displacement of the operating member from the initial position to the connection position by resiliently locking the lock receiving portion. However, the resilient piece is pressed by an unlocking portion of the mating housing and unlocked from the lock receiving portion to allow displacement of the operating member to the connection position. The resilient piece is shaped to deflect and deform in a direction along the plate surface of the arm when pressed by the unlocking portion. 
     When the operating member is at the initial position, the unlocking portion of the mating housing presses the resilient piece and causes the resilient piece to deflect and deform in the direction along the plate surface of the arm to be unlocked from the lock receiving portion. Thus, the operating member can be displaced toward the connection position. A locking margin of the resilient piece with the lock receiving portion is determined in the direction along the plate surface of the arm. Thus, a degree of 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 at the initial position can be enhanced. 
     Note that an operating member of an embodiment described later has an assembled position in addition to the initial position and the connection position. However, the operating member need not have the assembled position. Further, the operating member described later includes a rotating mechanism configured to rotationally displace the operating member between the assembled position and the initial position and a sliding mechanism configured to move linearly and to displace the operating member between the initial position and the connection position. However, the invention can use either the rotating mechanism or the sliding mechanism to displace the operating member between the initial position and the connection position. 
     The resilient piece may be in the form of a beam supported on both ends coupled to a body part of the arm. According to this configuration, external matter such as a looped wire is less likely to be caught by the arm and the deflection strength of the arm portion can be enhanced. 
     The operating member may be movable linearly along the housing from the initial position to the connection position. One of the housing and the arm may include a support shaft and the other may include a linearly extending long groove. The support shaft is insertable into the long groove to be slidable in contact with the long groove. The support shaft may include a jaw and the long groove may include an engaging edge configured to contact the jaw in an opening direction of the arm. When the operating member moves linearly with respect to the housing, the long groove and the support shaft slide on each other to guide a movement of the operating member. At this time, the engaging edge of the long groove comes into contact with the jaw of the support shaft, thereby suppressing an opening deformation movement of the arm. As just described, a function of guiding a movement of the operating member and a function of restricting opening deformation of the operating member are realized by the long groove and the support shaft, and a member such as a cover configured to cover the arm of the operating member is not necessary on an outer side of the housing. Thus, a degree of freedom in molding the lock receiving portion disposed on the outer surface of the housing is 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 connected shallowly 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 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 16 . A connector of this 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, end of the housings  10 ,  12  that face each other at the start of connection are referred to as front end concerning a front-rear direction. A vertical direction is based on  FIG. 13  and equivalent to a direction perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 1 . 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 extending along a long side direction. Unlocking ribs  15  are provided on one lateral end part of the inner surface of each of the upper and lower walls and extend 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 housing body  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 . The housing body  16  is a wide rectangular block that is configured to fit into the receptacle  13 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , cavities  17  penetrate through the housing body  16  in the front-rear direction. 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. Each 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 both upper and lower surfaces of the housing body  16 . Four circumferentially spaced jaws  19  protrude radially from a tip of a cylindrical part of each support shaft  18 . Each jaw  19  is rectangular in a plan view, and the jaws  19  are arranged at intervals of 90□ to the front, rear, left and right of the tip of the cylindrical part. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a wide flat space  21  penetrates through the housing body  16  in the front-rear direction at a position above the respective cavities  17 , and a flat and plate-like thin wall  22  extending in the lateral direction is provided to close an upper side of the space  21 . Further, the interior of the space  21  is divided by separation walls  23  disposed on both 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 are open on a rear end while communicating with the space  21 . An inner edge of the groove  24  is continuous with a surface of the separation wall  23 . Plate shaped resilient locks  25  and  26  are cantilevered rearward from both left and right parts of the thin wall  22  between a pair of the grooves  24 . The resilient locks  25 ,  26  are deflectable and deformable vertically with the front ends serving as supports. 
     As described later, the resilient locks  25 ,  26  have a function of locking and holding the operating member  11  on the housing  10  in a movement restricted state, and define 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 arranged at line-symmetrical positions across a laterally central part of the housing body  16  on opposite sides of the support shafts  18 . 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 plates of the resilient locks  25 ,  26  are forward from the rear end of the housing  10 . Lock projections  27  project up on rear ends of the plates 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 and both 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 plates of the resilient locks  25 ,  26  and projecting down in the space  21 . Each excessive deflection restricting piece  29  has a vertical part hanging down from the plate 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 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  contacts the excessive deflection restriction receiving piece  31  from below to prevent 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, the resilient lock  25 ,  26  cannot be 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  (on the side of the support shaft  18 ) 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 each of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing body  16 . Two of the lock receiving portions  32  are point-symmetrically shaped and are at point-symmetrical positions with respect to a center of the housing body  16  (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 arranged 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 both 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 and protruding rearward and laterally on a rear end side of a tip part 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 later-described locking projection  49  of the operating member  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a stopper  35  is provided on the other lateral end of each of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing body  16  and is in the form of a plate extending in the front-rear direction. The two stoppers  35  are shaped point-symmetrically at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the housing body  16 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the stoppers  35  are longer in the front-rear direction than the lock receiving portions  32  and arranged along side surfaces of the housing body  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear end of each stopper  35  protrudes in the vertical direction and is arranged perpendicularly. As described later, the operating member  11  can be stopped at an initial position in contact with the stopper  35 . 
     The operating member  11  is made of synthetic resin, and includes a coupling  36  and two arms  37  projecting parallel to each other from ends of the coupling  36  to define a U-shape, as shown in  FIG. 15 . This operating member  11  is displaceable, with respect to the housing  10 , from an assembled position (see  FIG. 1 ), the initial position (see  FIG. 2 ) and a connection position (see  FIG. 8 ). 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 when the operating member is in the assembled position ( FIG. 1 ). The arms  37  project large amounts laterally of the housing  10  along the lateral direction when the operating member is in the initial position ( FIG. 2 ). The arms  37  project slightly laterally of the housing  10  along the lateral direction or are arranged without projecting when the operating member  11  is in the connection position ( FIG. 8 ) 
     The operating member  11  includes a rotating mechanism and a sliding mechanism. The rotating mechanism is configured to displace the operating member  11  rotationally 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. The sliding mechanism is configured to displace the operating member  11  linearly 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 arrow A of  FIG. 2 ) and a second movement path (see arrow B of  FIG. 9 ). With the first movement path (arrow A of  FIG. 2 ), the operating member  11  moves from the side of the first lock  25  toward the side of the second lock  26 . With the second movement path (arrow B of  FIG. 9 ), the operating member  11  is inverted vertically from a moving posture along the first movement path and 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 extending in the vertical direction and an operator can grip the coupling  36  by the fingers. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , a side of each of the arms  37  distant from the coupling  36  forms a flat plate-shaped body expanded in the front-rear direction, and a cam groove  38  is provided in the body. The cam groove  38  is a bottomed groove formed by recessing an outer surface of the body of the arm  37 , extends in a curved manner and is open on the front end edge of the body. The cam groove  38  engages the cam follower  14  of the mating housing  12  to proceed with the connecting operation of the housings  10 ,  12  when the operating member  11  moves from the initial position to 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  that linearly extends from the end  41  toward the coupling  36 . The engaging edge  44  extends along the edge of the long groove  39  in the plate thickness direction of the arm  37  to face the housing body  16  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 . The 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 restricts outward expanding deformation (opening deformation) of the arm  37 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 14 , the end  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 a rectangular or triangular cross-sectional shape so that the jaws  19  are fittable inside. When the operating member  11  is arranged at the assembled position and the arms  37  are 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. 16 , a bottomed guide groove  46  is provided on the inner surface of the body part of each of the arms  37  and extends forward from an end  43  of the long groove  43  on the side of the coupling  36 . The guide groove  46  is shallower than the cam groove  38 . When the operating member  11  is displaced rotationally between the assembled position and the initial position, the lock projection  27  of the resilient lock  25 ,  26  is inserted into the guide groove  46  to be slidable in contact with the guide groove  46 . 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 that connects the body part and the coupling  36  in each of the arms  37 . The escaping groove  47  is arranged at the same position as the long groove  39  in the front-rear direction, extends in the lateral direction and is open on the front end edge of the plate of the arm  37 . The lock projection  27  of the resilient lock  25 ,  26  is inserted into the escaping groove  47  to be allowed 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  and projects laterally toward the coupling  36  along a plate surface of the arm  37  from an outer edge of the body part. The resilient piece  48  is curved to form a U-shaped beam with both ends coupled to the body of the arm  37 , and is thinner than the body of the arm  37 . A claw-like locking projection  49  projects forward on a tip part of the U-shaped central part) of the resilient piece  48  in a projecting direction. 
     Next, functions of the connector are described. 
     The operating member  11  is separated from the housing  10  for transportation to a connector assembly site. The terminal fittings are inserted into the cavities  17  of the housing  10  at the connector assembly site and then the operating member  11  is assembled with the housing  10  at the assembled position (see  FIG. 1 ). During assembly, the operating member  11  is pushed to straddle the housing  10  obliquely from the rear. Then, after 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 . 
     The lock projection  27  of the first lock  25  is inserted into the guide groove  46  of the arm  37  when the operating member  11  reaches the assembled position. At this time, the lock projection  27  contacts a front end part of the guide groove  46  to restrict a rotational displacement of the operating member  11  in a direction away from 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 about the support shafts  18  that have been inserted into the ends  41  of the long grooves  39  to move in a clockwise direction of  FIG. 1  from the assembled position toward the initial position. 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 deformed while the operating member  11  is rotated. 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 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  27  is transferred and 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 to restrict rotation of the operating member  11  in the return direction toward the assembled position. Further, the plate of the arm  37  on the 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. 4 ). 
     When the operating member  11  reaches the initial position, the locking projection  49  of the resilient piece  48  is arranged for laterally contacting the rear end of the rib-like part of the lock receiving portion  32 , thereby restricting 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 fit 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  and ensures that external mater does not 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 can contact the ends  41  at the initial position. Thus, a movement of the operating member  11  in a direction opposite to that toward the connection position is also restricted (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     In the above state, the receptacle  13  of the mating housing  12  is fit shallowly to the housing  10  and the cam followers  14  enter the cam grooves  38  (see  FIG. 6 ). Further, the unlocking portion  15  presses the tip of the resilient piece  48  in the projecting direction so that the resilient piece  48  is deformed 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 enable the operating member  11  to be moved to the connection position. Further, deforming the resilient piece  48  along the inner surface of the receiving piece  33  ensures that interference of the resilient piece  48  and the receiving piece  33  is avoided. 
     The operating member  11  then 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 moving 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 inwardly. When the operating member  11  is moved further toward the connection position, the lock projection  27  enters the escaping groove  47  and escapes so that the first lock  25  is returned 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. In this way, a movement of the operating member  11  is guided. 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 deform out and away from the outer surfaces of the housing body  16  due to connection resistance. However, the engaging edges  44  of the long grooves  39  contact the front and rear jaws  19  from inside to restrict expanding movements of the arms  37 . As a result, the arms  37  cannot deform 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  is deflected inward. When the operating member  11  reaches the connection position, the second lock  26  is displaced resiliently in a return direction and the lock projection  27  is inserted into the end  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) to restrict 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  contact the other ends  43  of the long grooves  39  and the coupling  36  is arranged to contact the side surface of the housing  10 , thereby restricting 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  to restrict a rotational displacement of the operating member  11 . At the connection position, the cam followers  14  are located in final end parts of the cam grooves  38  and the housings  10 ,  12  are connected properly. 
     On the other hand, a situation may arise in which the operating member  11  cannot be moved along the first movement path due to an interfering object to the right side of  FIG. 2 . Thus, the operating member  11  at the initial position interferes with the interfering object. In this situation, it is selected to move the operating member  11  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 on a left side of  FIG. 9  and opposite to the side 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 comes into contact with the front end part of the guide groove  46 , thereby restricting a rotational displacement of the operating member  11  in the direction opposite to that toward the initial position. 
     Subsequently, the operating member  11  is rotated counterclockwise 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 to restrict a return displacement of the operating member  11  to the assembled position. Further, the plate 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 any 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 , thereby restricting a 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  are inserted into the entrances of the cam grooves  38 . The resilient piece  48  then is pressed by the unlocking portion  15  and deflected rearwardly 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 portion  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 contacts the end  41  of the long groove  39  in a direction opposite to the 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, roles of locking functions of the first and second locks  25 ,  26  at each of the initial position and the connection position are reversed 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. 
     As described above, each of the following effects can be achieved according to this embodiment. 
     Since 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 at the assembled position than at the initial position, 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. However, 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. Therefore, the operating member  11  does not stay long at the initial position and is less likely to interfere with external matter at the initial position. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the operating member  11  is 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. However, the expanding movements are suppressed by 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 the arrangement of the operating member  11  in a state 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 one of the first and second movement paths can be selected 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 configured to cover the operating member  11  are not present on the outer surfaces of the housing  10 , and a mold removal structure in molding the first and second locks  25 ,  26  on the outer surface of the housing  10  needs not be complicated. 
     When the operating member  11  is moved linearly with respect to the housing  10 , 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  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 the 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 individually provided, 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 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. Therefore, the structure can be simplified. 
     Further, the unlocking portion  15  of the mating housing  12  presses the resilient piece  48  when the operating member  11  is at the initial position so that the resilient piece  48  is deflected and deformed in the direction along the plate surface of the arm  37  to be unlocked from the lock receiving portion  32  and the operating member  11  is in a state displaceable 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 . Thus, a degree of 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 . Therefore, 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. 
     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 . Accordingly, a mold removal structure in molding the lock receiving portions  32  needs not be complicated. 
     Other embodiments are described below. 
     Contrary to the above embodiment, the support shafts may be provided on the inner surfaces of the arms of the operating member, the long grooves may be 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 on the support shaft are arbitrary and the escaping recesses may be provided to correspond to the jaw portions. 
     The housing may include a wire cover to cover the rear surface of the housing when the wires connected to the terminal fittings are pulled out rearwardly of the housing. Thus, the support shafts, the lock receiving portions and the resilient locks may be provided on the wire cover. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  . . . housing 
           11  . . . operating member 
           12  . . . mating housing 
           15  . . . unlocking portion 
           18  . . . support shaft 
           19  . . . jaw 
           25  . . . first lock portion (resilient lock) 
           26  . . . second lock portion (resilient lock) 
           27  . . . lock projection 
           32  . . . lock receiving portion 
           36  . . . coupling 
           37  . . . arm 
           38  . . . cam groove 
           39  . . . long groove 
           41  . . . end of long groove 
           44  . . . engaging edge 
           46  . . . guide groove 
           48  . . . resilient piece 
           49  . . . locking projection