Patent Publication Number: US-11387601-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-199668, filed on Nov. 1, 2019, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2018-200745 includes a housing and a wire cover (hereinafter, referred to as a cover) to be mounted to cover a rear surface side of the housing. The cover protects wires pulled out from the rear surface side of the housing. The cover includes resilient lock pieces provided with lock projections. The housing includes recess-like locked portions. If the cover is held on the housing, the lock projections of the resilient lock pieces are locked to the locked portions. A connector provided with a cover of this type is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 2006-073326 and 2015-220019. 
     SUMMARY 
     The aforementioned locked portions are arranged in a point-symmetric manner in a back view on four corner parts around the rear surface side of the housing (see FIG. 12 of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2018-200745). In this case, the cover can be mounted in two mounting postures, in which wire draw-out directions are opposite. Then, an operator may mount the wire cover on the housing in the mounting posture inverted from the original posture. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector in which a cover can be mounted in a proper posture on a housing. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a housing including a rear surface portion facing rearward, and a cover for surrounding a wire pulled out from the rear surface portion side, wherein the housing includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion provided around the rear surface portion, the cover includes a first mount receiving portion and a second mount receiving portion to be respectively mounted to the first and second mounting portions, the first mounting portion includes a first lock portion, the second mounting portion includes a second lock portion and an interfering portion arranged side by side with the second lock portion, the first mount receiving portion includes a first lock receiving portion to be locked by the first lock portion and the second lock receiving portion includes a second lock receiving portion to be locked by the second lock portion and an escaping space, the interfering portion being arranged in the escaping space, and the first lock portion and the interfering portion are arranged at positions inverted 180° with a center of the rear surface portion in a back view of the housing as a center. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector in which a cover can be mounted in a proper posture on a housing. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector viewed obliquely from a lower-front side in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the connector viewed obliquely from an upper-rear side with a lever arranged at an initial position. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the connector. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the connector. 
         FIG. 5  is a section along A-A of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a section along B-B of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the connector with a lid cover arranged in an open state with respect to a body cover. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a back view of the housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the lever viewed obliquely from a lower-front side. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a cover viewed obliquely from an upper-front side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a housing including a rear surface portion facing rearward, and a cover for surrounding a wire pulled out from the rear surface portion side, wherein the housing includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion provided around the rear surface portion, the cover includes a first mount receiving portion and a second mount receiving portion to be respectively mounted to the first and second mounting portions, the first mounting portion includes a first lock portion, the second mounting portion includes a second lock portion and an interfering portion arranged side by side with the second lock portion, the first mount receiving portion includes a first lock receiving portion to be locked by the first lock portion and the second lock receiving portion includes a second lock receiving portion to be locked by the second lock portion and an escaping space, the interfering portion being arranged in the escaping space, and the first lock portion and the interfering portion are arranged at positions inverted 180° with a center of the rear surface portion in a back view of the housing as a center. According to this configuration, the second lock portion is locked to the second lock receiving portion and the interfering portion is arranged in the escaping space, whereby the cover is properly held on the housing. On the other hand, if the cover is in a mount posture different from a proper mount posture, the interfering portion interferes with the first lock portion. Thus, a situation where the cover in the mount posture different from the proper one is held on the housing can be avoided. 
     (2) A plurality of the first lock portions may be provided side by side in a back view in the first mounting portion, the second lock portion(s) less than the first lock portions may be provided in the second mounting portion, and one of the plurality of first lock portions may be arranged at the position inverted 180° with respect to the interfering portion. According to this configuration, since an operator can easily recognize each lock portion by confirming a difference between the number of the first lock portions and that of the second lock portion(s), a cover mounting operation can be quickly started. 
     (3) The housing may include a fitting tube portion, a mating connector being fit inside the fitting tube portion, and the interfering portion may be formed by causing a part of the fitting tube portion to bulge outward and an erroneous assembly preventing protrusion of the mating connector may be arranged inside the interfering portion. According to this configuration, if an attempt is made to assemble the mating connector in an erroneous assembly posture different from a proper assembly posture with the housing, a part of the mating connector other than the erroneous assembly preventing protrusion can interfere with the interfering portion. Thus, a situation where the mating connector in the erroneous posture is erroneously connected to the housing can be avoided. Here, since the interfering portion has a function of preventing erroneous connection of the mating connector and a function of preventing erroneous mounting of the cover, the configuration of the housing can be simplified as compared to the case where the both functions are separately provided. 
     (4) The connector may include a lever rotatably arranged on the housing to proceed with connection to the mating connector, the lever may be arranged outside the cover, and the cover may include a laterally projecting portion projecting in a direction intersecting a rotating direction of the lever. If the cover is held in a mount posture different from a proper mount posture on the housing, the lever interferes with the laterally projecting portion during rotation and a lever rotating operation cannot proceed. In that respect, according to this configuration, the first mounting portion and the first mount receiving portion are mountable to each other and the second mounting portion and the second mount receiving portion are mountable to each other, whereby a state where the cover is properly held on the housing is ensured. Therefore, a situation where the lever interferes with the laterally projecting portion during rotation can be reliably avoided. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Hereinafter, a specific example of the connector of the present disclosure is described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. 
     Embodiment 
     A connector of one embodiment includes, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a housing  10 , a lever  40  to be rotatably supported on the housing  10  and a cover  60  to be mounted on the housing  10 . The housing  10  is connectable to a mating connector  90 . Note that, in the following description, a surface side of the housing  10  facing the mating connector  90  at the start of connection is referred to as a front side concerning a front-rear direction. A vertical direction is based on a vertical direction of  FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 . A lateral direction is synonymous with a width direction and based on a lateral direction of  FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 to 11 . 
     &lt;Mating Connector  90 &gt; 
     Although not shown in detail, the mating connector  90  includes a receptacle  91  and a plurality of mating terminal fittings  92  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The mating terminal fitting  92  is made of conductive metal and includes a tab  93  projecting into the receptacle  91 . The receptacle  91  is made of synthetic resin and in the form of a rectangular tube long in the vertical direction. An erroneous assembly preventing protrusion  94  is provided on one widthwise side of an upper wall of the receptacle  91 . The erroneous assembly preventing protrusion  94  is in the form of a rib extending in the front-rear direction on the upper surface of the upper wall of the receptacle  91 . Unillustrated cam followers are provided to project on left and right surfaces of the receptacle  91 . 
     &lt;Housing  10 &gt; 
     The housing  10  is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a housing body  11  in the form of a rectangular block, a fitting tube portion  12  surrounding the housing body  11 , and a rear wall  13  coupling the fitting tube portion  12  and the housing body  11  in a rear part. A seal ring  20  is mounted on a rear end part of the outer periphery of the housing body  11  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     A space between the fitting tube portion  12  and the housing body  11  and forward of the rear wall  13  is configured as a fitting space  14 . The receptacle  91  of the mating connector  90  is inserted into the fitting space  14  from front. Here, sealing is provided between the receptacle  91  and the housing body  11  via the seal ring  20  in a liquid-tight manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the fitting tube portion  12  has a rectangular shape in a back view. Upper and lower surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12  are laterally arranged. Left and right surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12  are vertically arranged. Widths of the upper and lower surfaces of the fitting tube portions  12  are smaller than heights of the left and right surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12 . That is, the upper and lower surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12  constitute short-side regions and the left and right surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12  constitute long-side regions. 
     A pair of left and right leg portions  15  are provided to stand on the upper surface of the fitting tube portion  12 . A deflectable lock arm  16  is provided between the upper ends of the both leg portions  15 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lock arm  16  restricts the rotation of the lever  40  at a connection position (to be described later) by locking the lever  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  10  includes a pair of left and right outer walls  17  lateral to the left and right surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12 . A pair of left and right space portions  18  are provided between the left and right surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12  and the facing outer walls  17 . The both space portions  18  are elongated in the vertical direction, closed on upper parts of front ends and lower ends (see  FIG. 8 ) and open on rear ends ( FIG. 9 ). Later-described arm portions  41  of the lever  40  are inserted into the both space portions  18 . The both outer walls  17  are in the form of plates along the vertical direction and arranged to cover the arm portions  41 . The both outer walls  17  are provided with cylindrical support shafts  19  projecting into the space portions  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the housing body  11  includes a plurality of cavities  21 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a terminal fitting  23  is inserted into each cavity  21  from behind. The terminal fitting  23  is locked by a locking lance  22  projecting from an inner wall of the cavity  21  and retained in the housing  10 . The terminal fitting  23  is made of conductive metal and includes a tubular connecting portion  24  into which the tab  93  is inserted for connection. A wire  25  is connected to a rear part of the terminal fitting  23  by crimping. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  10  includes a plurality of seal towers  26  projecting rearward from the rear wall  13 . Each seal tower  26  has a hollow cylindrical shape and has a seal hole  27  having a circular cross-section inside. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the seal hole  27  of each seal tower  26  communicates with each cavity  21 . A rubber plug  30  mounted on the outer periphery of the wire  25  is inserted into the seal hole  27  of each seal tower  26 . The rubber plug  30  is held in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the seal hole  27  to seal the inside of the housing  10  in a liquid-tight manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  10  includes a rear surface portion  28  facing rearward. The rear surface portion  28  has a rear surface  28 A of the rear wall  13 . The rear surface  28 A of the rear wall  13  is arranged along the vertical direction and the lateral direction. The rear surface  28 A of the rear wall  13  is arranged to be retracted forward from the rear end of each seal tower  26  and the rear ends of the both outer walls  17 . Both left and right ends of the rear surface  28 A of the rear wall  13  are facing the corresponding space portions  18  and arranged adjacent to the arm portions  41  of the lever  40 . 
     The housing  10  includes housing side surface portions  29  facing laterally in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction. The housing side surface portions  29  have outer surfaces  29 A of the both outer walls  17 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  is a flat surface along the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  10  includes a first mounting portion  31  and a second mounting portion  32  around the rear surface portion  28  (in a peripheral part). The first and second mounting portions  31 ,  32  are structured to hold the cover  60  mounted on the housing  10  as described later. Specifically, the first and second mounting portions  31 ,  32  are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the fitting tube portion  12  serving as the short-side regions. The first and second mounting portions  31 ,  32  are formed (shaped, arranged) not to be point-symmetric with respect to a center (center in each of the vertical direction and the lateral direction) of the housing  10  in a back view. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3, 8 and 9 , the first mounting portion  31  includes a pair of first lock portions  33  arranged at an interval in the lateral direction on the lower surface of the fitting tube portion  12 . The both first lock portions  33  are in the form of projecting claws and have the same shape. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rear surface of the first lock portion  33  is inclined downwardly. The front surface of the first lock portion  33  is arranged along the vertical direction. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the first mounting portion  31  includes a lock guide portion  34  in the form of a gate-shaped frame surrounding the both first lock portions  33 . As shown in  FIGS. 3, 8 and 9 , the lock guide portion  34  includes support legs  35  standing between the both first lock portions  33  and on both left and right sides of the both first lock portions  33  on the lower surface of the fitting tube portion  12 , and a bridge wall  36  extending in the lateral direction between rear lower ends of the respective support legs  35 . The respective support legs  35  are arranged to entirely cover the both first lock portions  33  from both left and right sides. The bridge wall  36  is arranged at a position overlapping front end parts of the both first lock portions  33  with respect to the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the both leg portions  15  are arranged on both left and right sides of the second mounting portion  32 . The lock arm  16  is arranged above the second mounting portion  32 . The second mounting portion  32  includes a second lock portion  37  and an interfering portion  38  arranged at an interval in the lateral direction on the upper surface of the fitting tube portion  12 . The second lock portion  37  is in the form of a projecting claw and has a width different from those of the first lock portions  33 , particularly smaller than those of the first lock portions  33 . Further, the second lock portion  37  has a height different from those of the first lock portions  33 , particularly larger than those of the first lock portions  33 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the rear surface of the second lock portion  37  is inclined upwardly. The front surface of the second lock portion  37  is arranged along the vertical direction. 
     The interfering portion  38  is shaped by causing one widthwise side (left side of  FIG. 8  and right side of  FIG. 9 ) on the upper wall of the fitting tube portion  12  to bulge upward. Specifically, the interfering portion  38  has a gate-shaped cross-section and is shaped to extend in the front-rear direction on the one widthwise side of the upper wall of the fitting tube portion  12  (see  FIG. 5 ). The interfering portion  38  projects on the upper surface of the upper wall of the fitting tube portion  12 . The rear end (closing surface) of the interfering portion  38  is located behind the second lock portion  37 . A width of the interfering portion  38  is larger than that of the second lock portion  37 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the interfering portion  38  includes an erroneous assembly preventing recess  39  in the form of a rectangular recess in the inner surface of the upper wall of the fitting tube portion  12 . The erroneous assembly preventing recess  39  extends in the front-rear direction, is open in the front end of the fitting tube portion  12  and closed on the rear end of the fitting tube portion  12 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the erroneous assembly preventing protrusion  94  of the mating connector  90  is inserted into the erroneous assembly preventing recess  39  from front. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the interfering portion  38  and the first lock portion  33  (first lock portion  33  on the left side of  FIG. 9 ) are arranged at positions inverted 180° with a center C 1  (center in width and height directions) of the rear surface portion  28  in a back view of the housing  10  as a center. That is, the interfering portion  38  and the first lock portion  33  are arranged on an inversion axis D 1  passing through the center C 1  of the rear surface portion  28 . 
     &lt;Lever  40 &gt; 
     The lever  40  is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a pair of left and right arm portions  41  and a coupling portion  42  extending between the both arm portions  41 . The lever  40  is gate-shaped by being composed of the both arm portions  41  and the coupling portion  42 . Each of the both arm portions  41  includes a circular bearing hole  43  and a cam groove  44  extending to the vicinity of the bearing hole  43 . The both cam grooves  44  are shaped by recessing the inner surfaces of the both arm portions  41  and include entrances  45  open on the outer peripheral edges of the both arm portions  41 . The lever  40  is rotatable from an initial position shown in  FIG. 2  to the connection position shown in  FIG. 1  about the bearing holes  43  (support shafts  19 ) with respect to the housing  10  with the both arm portions  41  arranged in the space portions  18  and the support shafts  19  fit in the bearing holes  43 . At the initial position, the coupling portion  42  is arranged behind the housing  10  and the both arm portions  41  are partially arranged to project rearward through open parts on the rear ends of the space portions  18  as shown in  FIG. 2 . At the connection position, the coupling portion  42  is arranged on an upper end side of the housing  10  as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 , the coupling portion  42  includes a lever lock portion  46  inside a rectangular frame. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lever lock portion  46  is locked to the lock arm  16  at the connection position. 
     &lt;Cover  60 &gt; 
     The cover  60  is made of synthetic resin, cap-shaped and mounted on the housing  10  from behind. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cover  60  surrounds the respective wires  25  pulled out from the respective seal towers  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the cover  60  includes a body cover  61  and a lid cover  62  openably and closably coupled to the body cover  61  via a hinge  78 . The body cover  61  includes a base portion  63  for covering the rear surface portion  28  from behind and a laterally projecting portion  64  bent from the base portion  63  and projecting toward one lateral side. As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 , the body cover  61  is L-shaped in a back view by being composed of the base portion  63  and the laterally projecting portion  64 . 
     The front end of the base portion  63  is an opening end and arranged to come into contact along the outer periphery of the rear surface  28 A of the rear wall  13 . The front end of the laterally projecting portion  64  is an opening edge communicating with the front end of the base portion  63  and closed by the lid cover  62 . 
     The base portion  63  includes a back plate portion  65  arranged to face the rear surface portion  28 . The base portion  63  has a slope region inclined toward the front end from a rear surface side of the laterally projecting portion  64 . The lever  40  is located on the slope region of the base portion  63  and can avoid interference with the base portion  63  in a rotation process (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the cover  60  includes a first mount receiving portion  66  and a second mount receiving portion  67  on upper and lower surfaces on a front end side of the base portion  63 . The first and second mounting portions  31 ,  32  are respectively mounted into the first and second mount receiving portions  66 ,  67 . The first and second mount receiving portions  66 ,  67  are formed (shaped, arranged) not to be point-symmetric with respect to a center (center in each of the vertical direction and the lateral direction) of the base portion  63  in a front view. 
     The first mount receiving portion  66  includes a pair of first lock receiving portions  68  arranged at an interval in the lateral direction on the lower surface of the base portion  63 . The both first lock receiving portions  68  project forward from a lower side of the front end (opening end) of the base portion  63 . Specifically, the both first lock portions  68  are in the from of rectangular frames along the front-rear direction and have the same shape. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the corresponding first lock portions  33  are fit inside the both first lock receiving portions  68 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the second mount receiving portion  67  includes a second lock receiving portion  69  on the upper surface of the base portion  63 . The second lock receiving portion  69  projects forward from an upper side of the front end (opening end) of the base portion  63 . Specifically, the second lock receiving portion  69  is in the form of a rectangular frame along the front-rear direction and has a width different from those of the first lock receiving portions  68 , particularly smaller than those of the first lock receiving portions  68 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second lock portion  37  is fit inside the second lock receiving portion  69 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the second mount receiving portion  67  includes an escaping space  71  in a space on one widthwise side (left side of  FIG. 11 ) adjacent to the second lock receiving portion  69  on the front end side of the base portion  63 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the interfering portion  38  is arranged in the escaping space  71 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the laterally projecting portion  64  includes a laterally projecting back plate portion  72  connected at an angle to the back plate portion  65  and a first plate portion  73  and a second plate portion  74  projecting forward from both upper and lower sides of the laterally projecting back plate portion  72 . The first plate portion  73  projects from an upper side of the laterally projecting back plate portion  72  and is located inside the cover  60  L-shaped in a back view. The second plate portion  74  projects from a lower side of the laterally projecting back plate portion  72  and is located outside the cover  60  L-shaped in the back view. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a cover lock receiving portion  75  is provided on the outer surface of the second plate portion  74 . The cover lock receiving portion  75  includes a claw-like projection  76  and a bridge portion  77  provided around the projection  76 . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 11 , the hinge  78  is a flexible hinge having a U-shaped cross-section and provided along the lateral direction on the front edge of the first plate portion  73 . As shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 7 , an axis of the hinge  78  extends in a direction intersecting (particularly orthogonal to) the housing side surface portion  29  with the cover  60  held on the housing  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the lid cover  62  includes a lid body  79  in the form of a rectangular plate. One end (upper end in a closed state) of the lid body  79  is coupled to the hinge  78 . The other edge (lower edge in the closed state) of the lid body  79  is provided with a cover lock portion  81  projecting as shown in  FIG. 1 . The cover lock portion  81  is in the form of a rectangular frame and arranged along a direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the lid cover  62 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the projection  76  of the cover lock receiving portion  75  is fit inside the cover lock portion  81 . 
     When the lid cover  62  is in an open state with respect to the body cover  61 , a corrugated tube  70  is inserted into the laterally projecting portion  64 . With the corrugated tube  70  arranged in the laterally projecting portion  64 , the lid cover  62  is rotated via the hinge  78 . Thereafter, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the cover lock portion  81  locks the cover lock receiving portion  75 , whereby the lid cover  62  and the body cover  61  are held in the closed state with the corrugated tube  70  sandwiched therebetween. Note that the corrugated tube  70  is a flexible bellow tube which is made of synthetic resin and into which the wires  25  are inserted. 
     The cover  60  includes a cover side surface portion  82  arranged to face forward on a side (left side of a broken line X) near the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  constituting the housing side surface portion  29  with respect to a virtual plane (see the broken line X of  FIG. 4 ) along the front-rear direction. The cover side surface portion  82  has an outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 . In the case of this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79  is arranged to be orthogonal to the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  and face forward. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 , the lid cover  62  includes a restricting portion  83  shaped to project on the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 . The restricting portion  83  includes a covering portion  84  projecting from one side edge near the base portion  63 , out of both side edges intersecting one and the other edges of the body cover  79 . The covering portion  84  is in the form of a rectangular plate and has plate surfaces along the vertical direction orthogonal to the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 . The covering portion  84  is provided over the entire length of the one side edge of the lid body  79  from the one edge side toward the other edge side of the lid body  79 . The outer wall  17  of the fitting tube portion  12  is inserted into between the covering portion  84  and the facing side wall of the base portion  63  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 , the restricting portion  83  includes a plurality of ribs  85  coupled to the plate surface of the covering portion  84  while being spaced apart in a length direction of the one side edge of the lid body  79 . Each rib  85  is in the form of a plate along the lateral direction and coupled to the plate surface of the covering portion  84  and the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 . Specifically, the respective ribs  85  are arranged on one edge part, the other edge part and an intermediate part between the both edge parts of the covering portion  84 . Each rib  85  has a triangular shape (particularly, right triangular shape) and has an inclined edge linearly inclined from a tip part of the covering portion  84  in a projecting direction to the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 . 
     &lt;Assembly Structure and Assembly Method of Connector&gt; 
     In assembling, the both arm portions  41  of the lever  40  are inserted into the both space portions  18 . In the process of inserting the lever  40 , the both arm portions  41  interfere with the support shafts  19  and the outer walls  17  are resiliently deformed outward. After the completion of the insertion, the outer walls  17  resiliently return and the support shafts  19  are fit into the bearing holes  43 . In this way, the lever  40  is supported on the housing  10 . 
     Subsequently, the cover  60  is mounted on the housing  10  from behind. In the process of mounting the cover  60 , the both first lock receiving portions  68  are inserted inside the lock guide portion  34  and ride on the both first lock portions  33  to be defected and deformed while being guided by the lock guide portion  34 . Further, the second lock receiving portion  69  rides on the second lock portion  37  to be deflected and deformed. When the cover  60  is properly mounted on the housing  10 , the both first lock receiving portions  68  resiliently return and are locked by the both first lock portions  33  (see  FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 ). Further, the second lock receiving portion  69  resiliently returns and is locked by the second lock portion  37  (see  FIG. 6 ). Further, the interfering portion  38  enters the escaping space  71  to avoid interference with the cover  60 . In this way, the cover  60  is held on the housing  10  with detachment restricted. When the cover  60  is properly mounted on the housing  10 , the base portion  63  is arranged along the front-rear direction and the vertical direction of the housing  10 , and the lateral projecting portion  64  is arranged to project toward the one widthwise side from a lower part of the housing  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). The wires  25  pulled out from the respective seal towers  26  are bent by the back plate portion  65  and the laterally projecting back plate portion  72  and drawn out to outside through an opening on one widthwise side of the lateral projecting portion  64 . 
     On the other hand, if an attempt is made to mount the cover  60  in a posture vertically inverted from a proper posture (hereinafter, referred to as an inverted posture) on the housing  10 , the first mount receiving portion  66  is arranged to face the second mounting portion  32  and the second mount receiving portion  67  is arranged to face the first mounting portion  31 . Then, one first lock receiving portion  68 , out of the both first lock receiving portions  68 , interferes with the rear end of the interfering portion  38 . In this way, a situation where the cover  60  in the inverted posture is mounted on the housing  10  can be avoided. Even if the one first lock receiving portion  68  rides on the interfering portion  38 , this first lock receiving portion  68  is not locked by the interfering portion  38 . Further, the second lock receiving portion  69  is not locked by the first lock portion  33  having a different width. Therefore, a situation where the cover  60  in the inverted posture is erroneously mounted on the housing  10  can be reliably avoided. 
     Thereafter, the corrugated tube  70  is inserted into the lateral projecting portion  64  and the lid cover  62  is rotated from the open state to the closed state with respect to the body cover  61 . In the process of rotating the lid cover  62 , the plate surface (plate surface on a side not coupled to the respective ribs  85 ) of the covering portion  84  is displaced along the outer surface  29 A of the facing outer wall  17 . In this way, a rotating operation of the lid cover  62  is guided. 
     When the lid cover  62  reaches the closed state, the cover lock portion  81  is inserted inside the bridge portion  77  and locked to the projection  76 . In this way, the lid cover  62  is held in the closed state with respect to the body cover  61 . The corrugated tube  70  is sandwiched and held between the lid cover  62  and the body cover  61 . 
     Here, the covering portion  84  of the restricting portion  83  is arranged along the vertical direction while the plate surfaces are facing in the front-rear direction. The tip part of the covering portion  84  in the projecting direction is arranged along the vertical direction to cover a lower part of the rear end of the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  (see  FIG. 1 ). Thus, the tip part of the covering portion  84  in the projecting direction can cover a clearance between the lateral projecting portion  64  and the outer wall  17  in a side view. 
     Each rib  85  of the restricting portion  83  is arranged along the lateral direction while the plate surfaces are facing in the vertical direction. The rear end edge of each rib  85  is integrally coupled to the lid body  79  along the lateral direction. The side end edge of each rib  85  is integrally coupled to the covering portion  84  along the front-rear direction and arranged to face the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79  via the covering portion  84 . In other words, each rib  85  of the restricting portion  83  is arranged to straddle between the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  and the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 . 
     If an external force is applied to the lid cover  62  to move the lid cover  62  toward the housing  10  away from the body cover  61  (see an arrow Y of  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 ) such as due to forward swing of the corrugated tube  70  extending outward from the lateral projecting portion  64  or the respective wires  25  drawn out to outside from the corrugated tube  70 , there is a concern that the cover lock portion  81  and the cover lock receiving portion  75  are unlocked and the lid cover  62  is accidentally opened. There is also a concern that a locked part of the cover lock portion  81  and the cover lock receiving portion  75  is broken. 
     However, according to this embodiment, the restricting portion  83  is interposed between the lid body  79  and the outer wall  17  to resist the external force acting in the direction of the arrow Y. Thus, the external force acting in the direction of the arrow Y can be reliably received by the contact of the covering portion  84  of the restricting portion  83  with the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17 . Therefore, it is possible to avoid the application of a large stress to the locked part of the cover lock portion  81  and the cover lock receiving portion  75  and avoid a situation where the locked part is broken. Further, a displacement of the lid body  79  toward the outer wall  17  can be hindered and a situation where the lid cover  62  is accidentally opened can be prevented. 
     Note that the outer wall  17  tends to be thin by having the space portion  18  inside, and may be defected and deformed when the restricting portion  83  contacts. However, since the arm portion  41  of the lever  40  is arranged in the space portion  18 , the outer wall  17  can be prevented from being deflected and deformed by contacting the arm portion  41 . 
     Prior to connector connection, the lever  40  is arranged at the initial position. At the initial position, the lever  40  is arranged to straddle on the base portion  63  from behind. 
     Subsequently, the receptacle  91  of the mating connector  90  is lightly fit into the fitting space  14  of the housing  10 . Then, the both cam followers enter the entrances  45  of the both cam grooves  44 . Further, the erroneous assembly preventing protrusion  94  enters the erroneous assembly preventing recess  39 . In that state, the coupling portion  42  is gripped and the lever  40  is rotated from the initial position to the connection position. In the rotation process, the both cam followers slide on groove surfaces of the both cam grooves  44 , a cam mechanism functions between the lever  40  and the mating connector  90 , and the receptacle  91  is deeply fit into the fitting space  14  of the housing  10 . When the lever  40  reaches the connection position, the receptacle  91  is fit to a proper depth in the fitting space  14  of the housing  10 . In this way, each mating terminal fitting  92  is properly conductively connected to each terminal fitting  23  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     On the other hand, if the mating connector  90  is in a connection posture inverted from a proper connection posture with respect to the housing  10 , the erroneous assembly preventing protrusion  94  does not reach a position corresponding to the erroneous assembly preventing recess  39  and interferes with the lower end of the fitting tube portion  12 . In this way, it is possible to avoid a situation where the receptacle  91  in the inverted connection posture enters the fitting space  14  of the housing  10  and the connector connection erroneously proceeds. 
     The following can be summarized for this embodiment from the above. 
     The restricting portion  83  is provided to straddle between the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  and the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 . Thus, a stress applied to the cover  60  when the corrugated tube  70  or the like extending outward from the laterally projecting portion  64  is swung in a direction toward the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  (see the arrow Y of  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 ) can be efficiently transmitted to the restricting portion  83 . As a result, a state where the cover  60  is held on the housing  10  can be reliably realized. 
     Particularly, the lid cover  62  can be prevented from being inadvertently opened with respect to the body cove  61 . In this case, since the restricting portion  83  is integrally provided to the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 , the lid cover  62  can be opened and closed with the cover  60  mounted on the housing  10 . 
     Further, since the axis of the hinge  78  extends in the direction orthogonal to the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  and the covering portion  84  of the restricting portion  83  is arranged along the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17 , even if the lid cover  62  is rotated about the hinge  78 , the interference of the lid cover  62  with the outer wall  17  can be avoided. In the process of rotating the lid cover  62 , the restricting portion  83  can be displaced along the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17 , wherefore the rotating operation of the lid cover  62  is guided. 
     Since the restricting portion  83  is provided on the outer surface  82 A of the lid body  79 , the outer surface  29 A of the outer wall  17  can bulge when the arm portion  41  interferes with the cam follower or the like in an assembly process of inserting the arm portions  41  of the lever  40  into the space portions  18  before the cover  60  is held on the housing  10 . Therefore, the lever  40  can be assembled without any problem. 
     Further, since the covering portion  84  of the restricting portion  83  is arranged to cover the clearance between the laterally projecting portion  64  and the outer wall  17  in a side view, the intrusion of water such as high-pressure washing water into the cover  60  or the housing  10  through this clearance can be prevented. Furthermore, since the restricting portion  83  includes the plurality of ribs  85 , sufficient durability against external forces can be ensured. 
     In the case of this embodiment, the first and second mounting portions  31 ,  32  are not point-symmetric to each other in a back view of the housing  10 , and the first and second mount receiving portions  66 ,  67  are also not point-symmetric to each other in a front view of the cover  60 . Thus, unless the first mount receiving portion  66  is mounted in the first mounting portion  31  and the second mount receiving portion  67  is mounted in the second mounting portion  32 , the cover  60  is not properly held on the housing  10 . Therefore, a situation where the cover  60  in the inverted posture is held on the housing  10  can be avoided. 
     Particularly, in the case of this embodiment, the cover  60  includes the laterally projecting portion  64  projecting in the direction intersecting a rotating direction (rotating surface) of the lever  60 . Thus, if the cover  60  in the inverted posture is held on the housing  10 , the lever  40  interferes with the laterally projecting portion  64  in the rotation process and the rotating operation of the lever  40  cannot proceed. In that respect, the connector of this embodiment can avoid the situation where the cover  60  in the inverted posture is held on the housing  10 , wherefore usefulness is high for the cover  60  including the laterally projecting portion  64 . 
     The housing  10  includes the pair of first lock portions  33  arranged side by side in a back view in the first mounting portion  31 , and one second lock portion  37  in the second mounting portion  32 . The cover  60  includes the pair of first lock receiving portions  68  to be fit to the first lock portions  33  in the first mount receiving portion  66 . Thus, an operator can know in an early stage whether or not the cover  60  is in a proper mount posture by confirming that the number of the second lock portion  37  is less than that of the first lock portions  33  or confirming that the number of the second lock receiving portion  69  is less than that of the first lock receiving portions  68  in mounting the cover  60 . Therefore, a mounting operation of the cover  60  can be quickly started. 
     Further, the second mounting portion  32  includes the interfering portion  38  at the position side by side with the second lock portion  37  in a back view. The second mount receiving portion  67  includes the escaping space  71  in which the interfering portion  38  is arranged. The interfering portion  38  and the first lock portion  33  are arranged at the positions inverted 180° with the center C 1  of the rear surface portion  28  as a center. Thus, if the cover  60  is in the inverted posture, the interfering portion  38  interferes with the first lock receiving portion  68  as a locking partner of the first lock portion  33  and the situation where the cover  60  in the inverted posture is held on the housing  10  can be quickly and reliably avoided. 
     Furthermore, the interfering portion  38  is internally provided with the erroneous assembly preventing recess  39  extending in the front-rear direction and open in the front end of the fitting tube portion  12 . If the mating connector  90  is in the proper connection posture, the erroneous assembly preventing protrusion  94  is arranged inside the erroneous assembly preventing recess  39 . On the other hand, if the mating connector  90  is in the connection posture inverted from the proper connection posture, the erroneous assembly preventing protrusion  94  interferes with the opening edge of the fitting tube portion  12  without reaching the position corresponding to the erroneous assembly preventing recess  39 . Thus, a situation where the mating connector  90  in the inverted connection posture is erroneously connected can be avoided. Here, since the interfering portion  38  has both a function of preventing erroneous connection of the mating connector  90  and a function of preventing erroneous mounting of the cover  60 , the configuration of the housing  10  can be simplified as compared to the case where the both functions are separately provided. 
     Other Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. 
     Although the restricting portion is integrally provided to the cover in the case of this embodiment, a restricting portion may be integrally provided to a housing as another embodiment. 
     Although the restricting portion is integrally provided to the cover in the case of this embodiment, restricting portions may be integrally provided to a housing and a cover as another embodiment. Although the cover is composed of the body cover and the lid cover in the case of this embodiment, a cover may be a single tubular body without being distinguished as a body cover and a lid cover as another embodiment. 
     Although the body cover and the lid cover are coupled via the hinge in the case of this embodiment, a body cover and a lid cover may be separable from each without being coupled via a hinge as another embodiment. 
     Although the outer surface (housing side surface portion) of the outer wall and the outer surface (cover side surface portion) of the lid body are arranged to be orthogonal to each other in the case of this embodiment, an outer surface (housing side surface portion) of an outer wall and an outer surface (cover side surface portion) of a lid body may be arranged to be inclined at an obtuse or acute angle with respect to the front-rear direction as another embodiment. 
     Although the first and second mounting portions are arranged at the positions visible in a back view of the housing and the first and second mount receiving portions are arranged at the positions visible in a front view of the cover in the case of this embodiment, first and second mounting portions may be arranged at positions invisible in a back view of a housing and first and second mount receiving portions may be arranged at positions invisible in a front view of a cover as another embodiment. 
     Although the housing is provided with two first lock portions and one second lock portion and the cover is provided with two first lock receiving portions and one second lock receiving portions in the case of this embodiment, a plurality of second lock portions may be provided as long as the number of the second lock portions is less than that of first lock portions and, similarly, a plurality of second lock receiving portions may be provided as long as the number of the second lock receiving portions is less than that of first lock receiving portions as another embodiment. 
     Although the first and second mounting portions are arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the housing and the first and second mount receiving portions are arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the cover in the case of this embodiment, first and second mounting portions may be arranged at an interval in a circumferential direction on the outer surface of the housing and first and second mount receiving portions may be arranged at an interval in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the cover as another embodiment. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.