Patent Abstract:
A connector is capable of being fitted to, and extracted from, a partner-side structure along the vertical direction. The partner-side structure is provided with a lock housing extending upwards. The connector is provided with a housing, and an operation member formed separately from the housing. The operation member is capable of rotating, about a rotary axis parallel to the vertical direction, between a release position and a lock position. A locked section protruding in the radial direction orthogonal to the rotary axis is provided to the operation member. The locked section allows the connector to be fitted to, and extracted from, the partner-side structure when the operation member is at the release position. The locked section interferes with the lock housing and prevents the connector from being fitted to, and extracted from, the partner-side structure when the operation member is at the lock position.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a connector which is mateable with and removable from a mating structure comprising a pin contact and a lock housing. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    For example, this type of connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1. 
         [0003]    As shown in  FIGS. 20A and 20B , a female connector (connector) disclosed in Patent Document 1 is mateable with and removable from a mating structure, which is formed on a battery body, along a mating direction. The mating structure is formed of a male terminal (pin contact) and a lock rib (lock housing) which are attached to an upper surface of the battery body. The connector comprises a housing and a female terminal (contact) held by the housing. The housing is provided with a bendable arm (resilient piece) having a lock projection. The bendable arm is provided on a periphery of the housing. The lock projection is supported to be movable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the mating direction. When the connector is mated with the mating structure, the lock projection is locked by the lock rib so that the connector is prevented from being unintentionally removed. The connector under a mated state, or the connector mated with the mating structure, can be removed from the mating structure by moving the lock rib toward the center of the housing in the lateral direction. 
       PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Document(s) 
       [0004]    Patent Document 1: JP B 3204918 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0005]    The lock projection of Patent Document 1 is formed to be relatively easily moved in the lateral direction in order to enable the connector to be mated with and removed from the mating structure. As a result, if the connector mated with the mating structure receives an upward strong force, or such force that forces the connector to be removed, the lock projection might be moved so that the connector is removed. The connector of Patent Document 1 easily comes off the mating structure, for example, when the connector is swayed. 
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector which is mateable with and removable from a mating structure comprising a pin contact and a lock housing and which can be more securely prevented from being unintentionally removed from the mating structure. 
         [0007]    Solution to Problem 
         [0008]    An aspect of the present invention provides a connector mateable with and removable from a mating structure along an upper-lower direction. The mating structure has an upper surface and comprises a pin contact and a lock housing which extend upward along the upper-lower direction from the upper surface. The connector comprises a housing, a contact and an operation member. The contact is held by the housing. The contact is brought into contact with the pin contact under a mated state where the connector and the mating structure are mated with each other. The operation member is formed separately from the housing and supported by the housing. The operation member is rotationally movable between a release position and a lock position about a pivot axis which is in parallel to the upper-lower direction. The operation member is provided with a locked portion projecting in a radial direction perpendicular to the pivot axis. The locked portion allows the connector to be moved to the mated state with the mating structure and to be removed from the mating structure when the operation member is located at the release position. The locked portion interferes with the lock housing when the operation member is located at the lock position, so that the locked portion prevents the connector from being moved to the mated state with the mating structure and from being removed from the mating structure. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0009]    According to the present invention, when the operation member of the connector is rotationally moved from the release position to the lock position, the connector mated with the mating structure is prevented from being removed. Accordingly, the connector can be more securely prevented from being unintentionally removed. 
         [0010]    An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a more complete understanding of its structure may be had by studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a connector and a mating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the connector and the mating structure are mated with each other, and an operation member of the connector is located at a release position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the mating structure of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view showing the mating structure of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded, perspective view showing the connector of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view showing the operation member of the connector of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view showing the operation member of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side view showing the operation member of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, side view showing the vicinity of a slope of a locked portion of the operation member (the part enclosed by dashed line A) of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing the operation member of  FIG. 6 , taken along line X-X. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged, bottom view showing the vicinity of a projection of the operation member (the part enclosed by dashed line B) of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a top view showing the connector and the mating structure of  FIG. 1 , wherein a cable connected to the connector is not illustrated. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a side view showing the connector and the mating structure of  FIG. 12 , wherein the mating structure is indicated by a cross-section of a lock housing taken along line XIII-XIII and a schematic shape of a hidden pin contact. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a top view showing the connector and the mating structure of  FIG. 12  under a state where the operation member is rotationally moved to a lock position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a side view showing the connector and the mating structure of  FIG. 14 , wherein the mating structure is indicated by a cross-section of a lock housing taken along line XV-XV. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing the connector and the mating structure of  FIG. 1  under the state where the operation member is rotationally moved to the lock position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a partial, cross-sectional view showing the connector of  FIG. 12  taken along line XVII-XVII, wherein the mating structure is not illustrated except a schematic shape of the pin contact. 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of  FIG. 17 , taken along line XVIII-XVIII. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of  FIG. 17  under the state where the operation member is rotationally moved to the lock position, taken along line XIX-XIX. 
           [0030]      FIG. 20A  is a top view showing an existing connector and a mating connector, wherein a part of the connector, which is hidden under the mating connector, is also illustrated.  FIG. 20B  is a cross-sectional view showing the connector and the mating connector of  FIG. 20A . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0032]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the connector  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention is a cable connector which is mateable with and removable from a mating structure  90  along an upper-lower direction (Z-direction). In detail, the connector  10  can be mated with the mating structure  90 , which is located below, by being moved downward, or along the negative Z-direction. The connector  10  mated with the mating structure  90  is in a mated state. The connector  10  in the mated state can be removed from the mating structure  90  by being moved upward, or along the positive Z-direction. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the mating direction is the negative Z-direction, and the removal direction is the positive Z-direction. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the mating structure  90  has an upper surface  90 U which is insulated. Moreover, the mating structure  90  comprises a pin contact  910  made of conductor and a lock housing  950  made of insulator. The pin contact  910  and the lock housing  950  extend upward along the Z-direction from the upper surface  90 U. The upper surface  90 U according to the present embodiment is a part of an upper surface, or the positive Z-side surface, of a battery body (not shown). The pin contact  910  according to the present embodiment is connected to the battery body. The pin contact  910  is used to charge electric power supplied via the connector  10  to the battery body, or used to supply the electric power charged in the battery body to a device (not shown) connected to the connector  10 . In other words, according to the present embodiment, the connector  10  is a power connector, and the pin contact  910  is a power contact. However, the present invention is also applicable to a connector other than the power connector. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper surface  90 U is formed with a holding hole  92 . As can be seen from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pin contact  910  is held in the holding hole  92  so as to extend in the Z-direction. In detail, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pin contact  910  has a contact portion  912 , a held portion  914  and a connection portion  916 . The connection portion  916  is inserted into the holding hole  92  and is electrically connected with the battery (not shown). The held portion  914  is held by the holding hole  92  so that the contact portion  912  extends upward from the upper surface  90 U (see  FIG. 3 ). The contact portion  912  according to the present embodiment has a columnar shape. Accordingly, the contact portion  912  has an upper end, or the positive Z-side end, which is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the Z-direction. 
         [0035]    The lock housing  950  according to the present embodiment is provided so as to be around the pin contact  910 . In detail, the lock housing  950  is provided with a sidewall  952  and a lock wall  954 . The sidewall  952  extends upward from the upper surface  90 U. The sidewall  952  covers opposite sides of the pin contact  910  in a width direction (Y-direction) and a front side, or the negative X-side, of the pin contact  910  in a front-rear direction (X-direction). The lock wall  954  is formed at an upper end of the sidewall  952 . The lock wall  954  is located above the pin contact  910  in the Z-direction. In addition, the lock wall  954  protrudes from the sidewall  952  toward the pin contact  910  in the XY-plane. Since the lock housing  950  is formed as described above, electrical shock due to contact with the pin contact  910  can be prevented. 
         [0036]    The lock wall  954  according to the present embodiment is formed of one arcuate portion  962  and two linear portions  964 . The arcuate portion  962  according to the present embodiment has a semicircular shape in a plane perpendicular to the Z-direction, or in the XY-plane that is a horizontal plane. However, the arcuate portion  962  may have any arc shape different from the semicircular shape, for example, one-third circle shape. The arcuate portion  962  is formed so as to project forward, or in the negative X-direction. The linear portions  964  extend rearward, or in the positive X-direction, from two rear ends, or the positive X-side ends, of the arcuate portions  962  in the X-direction, respectively. 
         [0037]    As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the arcuate portion  962  according to the present embodiment is formed to be apart from the center (CP) of the columnar shape of the contact portion  912  of the pin contact  910  by a predetermined distance (R0). In other words, according to the present embodiment, the center (CA) of the arcuate portion  962  is located at a position same as that of the center (CP) of the pin contact  910  in the XY-plane. However, the center (CA) of the arcuate portion  962  may be apart from the center (CP) of the pin contact  910 . 
         [0038]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  15 , the lock wall  954  has a lower surface, or the negative Z- side surface. The lower surface of the lock wall  954  is formed with lock portions  956 . The lock portion  956  according to the present embodiment is a plane which is formed mainly on a lower side, or the negative Z-side, of the linear portion  964  and is perpendicular to the Z-direction. However, the lock portion  956  may be oblique to the Z-direction. Moreover, the lock portion  956  may be a curved surface which intersects with the Z-direction. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the connector  10  comprises a housing  200  made of insulator, a contact  300  made of conductor and an operation member  400  made of insulator. The operation member  400  is formed separately from the housing  200 . The housing  200  according to the present embodiment consists of a first member  210  and a second member  280 . However, the housing  200  may further comprise the other members. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first member  210  has an upper plate  220 , a bottom plate  230  and a side plate  240 . In addition, the first member  210  is formed with an accommodation portion  270  to accommodate the contact  300 . In detail, the upper plate  220  and the bottom plate  230  are located at opposite ends of the housing  200  in the Z-direction, respectively. The side plate  240  is formed at one of opposite ends of the housing  200  in the Y-direction. The side plate  240  according to the present embodiment is located at the positive Y-side end of the housing  200 . The side plate  240  couples the upper plate  220  and the bottom plate  230  to each other in the Z-direction. The accommodation portion  270  is a space surrounded by the upper plate  220 , the bottom plate  230  and the side plate  240 . In other words, the upper plate  220 , the bottom plate  230  and the side plate  240  form the accommodation portion  270 . 
         [0041]    The upper plate  220  has an upper surface  220 U in parallel to the XY-plane. The upper surface  220 U is formed with a positioning mark  220 M. The positioning mark  220 M according to the present embodiment has a triangular shape. The upper plate  220  is formed with a support hole  222  and an engagement hole  224 . The support hole  222  is formed so as to partially cut out a front part, or the negative X-side part, of the upper plate  220  from the negative Y-side thereof. More specifically, the support hole  222  is a combination of a semicircular hole (a semicircular portion) and a rectangular cutout. The engagement hole  224  is a hole formed at the negative Y-side end of the upper plate  220 . The engagement hole  224  extends long in the X-direction while piercing the upper plate  220  in the Z-direction. 
         [0042]    The bottom plate  230  is formed with an insertion hole  232  and an engagement hole  234 . The insertion hole  232  is a circular hole piercing the bottom plate  230  in the Z-direction. In the XY-plane, the insertion hole  232  is slightly larger than the contact portion  912  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the pin contact  910 . In the XY-plane, the center of the insertion hole  232  is located at a position same as that of the center (CP) (see  FIG. 3 ) of the contact portion  912  under the mated state. Moreover, in the XY-plane, the center of the insertion hole  232  is apart from the center of the semicircular portion of the support hole  222  (see  FIG. 17 ). The engagement hole  234  is a hole which is formed at the negative Y-side end of the bottom plate  230  so as to correspond to the engagement hole  224  of the upper plate  220 . The engagement hole  234  extends long in the X-direction while piercing the bottom plate  230  in the Z-direction. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 17 , the upper plate  220  and the bottom plate  230  are formed with a step  226  and a step  236 , respectively. The step  226  and the step  236  project into the accommodation portion  270  from the upper plate  220  and the bottom plate  230 , respectively. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first member  210  further has a front plate  250  and a rear plate  260 . The front plate  250  and the rear plate  260  are located at opposite ends of the housing  200  in the X-direction, respectively. In detail, the front plate  250  is formed at a front end, or the negative X-side end, of the housing  200 , and the rear plate  260  is formed at a rear end, or the positive X-side end, of the housing  200 . The front plate  250  blocks a front end of the accommodation portion  270 . The rear plate  260  is formed with a connection hole  262 . The connection hole  262  is formed so as to cut out the rear plate  260  from the negative Y-side thereof. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 18 , the housing  200  is provided with a depression  242  and a recess  252 . The depression  242  and the recess  252  together with the support hole  222  form a section for accommodating a part of the operation member  400 . In detail, the side plate  240  has an inner wall which is partially depressed in the positive Y-direction so as to form the depression  242 . The front plate  250  has an inner wall which is partially recessed forward so as to form the recess  252 . The depression  242  and the recess  252  according to the present embodiment have shapes different from each other. However, the depression  242  and the recess  252  may have shapes similar to each other. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 13 , the second member  280  has a plate-like shape extending roughly in the XZ-plane. The second member  280  is formed with two engagement projections  282 . The engagement projections  282  have shapes corresponding to those of the engagement hole  224  and the engagement hole  234 , respectively. More specifically, each of the engagement projections  282  projects outward in the Z-direction while extending long in the X-direction. 
         [0047]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 5 and 17 , the contact  300  according to the present embodiment has a body portion  310  and a connection portion  330  which are integrally formed. 
         [0048]    The body portion  310  has a shape which is a combination of a half column and a square column. The body portion  310  is formed with a receiving portion  320 . The receiving portion  320  is a columnar hole piercing the body portion  310  in the Z-direction. The receiving portion  320  is formed with an inner wall  322 . 
         [0049]    The connection portion  330  has a columnar shape extending rearward from a rear end of the body portion  310 . The connection portion  330  is connected to a cable  800 . The cable  800  extends in the X-direction, or in a direction perpendicular to the Z-direction. The contact  300  can receive electric power from a power source (not shown) via the cable  800 . The contact  300  is securely connected to the cable  800  by crimping a crimping member  850  at a connection section between the connection portion  330  and the cable  800 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 17 , a contact member  340  made of metal is attached to the inner wall  322  of the receiving portion  320 . The contact member  340  roughly has an annular shape. The contact member  340  has a middle portion in the Z-direction which has a circular shape smaller than opposite ends of the contact member  340  in the Z-direction. In detail, in the XY-plane, an inner diameter of the middle portion of the contact member  340  is smaller than a diameter the contact portion  912  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the pin contact  910 . On the other hand, an inner diameter of each of the opposite ends of the contact member  340  is larger than the diameter of the contact portion  912 . In addition, the middle portion of the contact member  340  is resiliently deformable in the XY-plane. 
         [0051]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 5 and 17 , the contact  300 , which is formed as described above and is connected to the cable  800 , is inserted into the accommodation portion  270  of the first member  210  along the positive Y-direction and accommodated therein. The contact  300 , which is accommodated in the accommodation portion  270 , is sandwiched between the upper plate  220  and the bottom plate  230  in the Z-direction so that a movement of the contact  300  in the Z-direction is prevented (see  FIG. 17 ). Moreover, the body portion  310  of the contact  300  is sandwiched between the front plate  250  and the steps  226  and  236  in the X-direction so that a movement of the contact  300  in the X-direction is prevented (see  FIG. 17 ). 
         [0052]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 5 and 13 , the second member  280  is attached to the first member  210  along the positive Y-direction after the contact  300  is accommodated in the first member  210 . In detail, the two engagement projections  282  are engaged with the engagement hole  224  and the engagement hole  234 , respectively, so that the second member  280  is fixed to the first member  210 . When the second member  280  is fixed to the first member  210 , the contact  300  is sandwiched between the side plate  240  and the second member  280  in the Y-direction so that a movement of the contact  300  in the Y-direction is prevented. 
         [0053]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 5 and 17 , the contact  300  is held at a predetermined position in the accommodation portion  270 . The receiving portion  320  of the contact  300  held at the predetermined position is located on the insertion hole  232  of the bottom plate  230 . The cable  800  extends to the outside of the housing  200  through the connection hole  262  of the rear plate  260 . As described above, the housing  200  according to the present embodiment is fabricated by combining the first member  210  and the second member  280  in a direction perpendicular to the Z-direction. Accordingly, for example, even if the cable  800  is swayed and applies a force in the Z-direction to the contact  300 , the contact  300  can be securely held within the accommodation portion  270 . 
         [0054]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the operation member  400  according to the present embodiment is supported by the housing  200  so as to be rotationally movable along a rotation direction about a pivot axis (AX) in parallel to the Z-direction. According to the present embodiment, when the connector  10  is seen along the negative Z-direction, the rotation direction is a clockwise direction. However, the operation member  400  can be formed so as to be rotationally movable in a counterclockwise direction. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the operation member  400  is formed into a disk-like shape as a whole. In detail, the operation member  400  has a pivotable portion  410 , two locked portions  420 , an operation portion  430  and a lower plate  440 . 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the pivotable portion  410  has an upper surface  410 U in parallel to the XY-plane. The upper surface  410 U is formed with a positioning mark  410 M. The positioning mark  410 M according to the present embodiment has a triangular shape similar to that of the positioning mark  220 M (see  FIG. 2 ). The pivotable portion  410  is formed of a columnar portion  412  of columnar shape and two side portions  414  which project outward in radial directions of the column, or in directions perpendicular to the pivot axis (AX), from the columnar portion  412 . The locked portions  420  further project outward in the radial directions from lower ends, or the negative Z-side ends, of the side portions  414 , respectively. 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  9 , each locked portion  420  has an upper side, or an upper surface, which extends to intersect with the Z-direction. In detail, the upper side of the locked portion  420  is formed with a planar portion  422  and a slope  424 . The planar portion  422  extends in the XY-plane along the rotation direction, or along the side portion  414 . The slope  424  extends from the planar portion  422  while sloping downward along the rotation direction. Accordingly, a height (H1), or a size in the Z-direction, of an end of the locked portion  420  in the rotation direction is smaller than another height (H2) of a portion of the locked portion  420  which is formed with the planar portion  422  (see  FIG. 9 ). In other words, the end of the slope  424  in the rotation direction is located below the planar portion  422 . 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  10 , the lower plate  440  is formed under the pivotable portion  410  with a distance from the pivotable portion  410 . The pivotable portion  410  and the lower plate  440  are coupled to each other in the Z-direction by a columnar portion smaller than the pivotable portion  410  and the lower plate  440  so that the operation member  400  is formed with a recess  480 . The recess  480  is located between the pivotable portion  410  and the lower plate  440  in the Z-direction. 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the lower plate  440  has a first arcuate portion  442 , a second arcuate portion  444  and two tangential portions  446 . According to the present embodiment, the first arcuate portion  442  has a semicircular shape in the XY-plane, and the second arcuate portion  444  has an arc shape in the XY-plane. A size of an imaginary circle having the second arcuate portion  444  as its part is larger than another size of another imaginary circle having the first arcuate portion  442  as its part. The tangential portions  446  couple the first arcuate portion  442  and the second arcuate portion  444  to each other. The second arcuate portion  444  and the tangential portions  446  has connection portions therebetween each of which is formed with a corner  448 . In other words, the lower plate  440  has two of the corners  448 . 
         [0060]    The center of the semicircle of the first arcuate portion  442  is located on the pivot axis (AX) of the operation member  400 . Similarly, the center of the arc of the second arcuate portion  444  is located on the pivot axis (AX) of the operation member  400 . Accordingly, when the operation member  400  pivots, the first arcuate portion  442  and the second arcuate portions  444  pivot about the pivot axis (AX). 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  10  and  11 , the lower plate  440  is formed with a groove  460  which pierces the lower plate  440  in the Z-direction. The groove  460  extends along the second arcuate portion  444  in the vicinity of the second arcuate portion  444  so that the lower plate  440  is formed with a support portion  450 . The support portion  450  is an arc-shaped, narrow portion which extends long along the groove  460 . The thus-formed support portion  450  is resiliently deformable toward the groove  460 . 
         [0062]    The operation member  400 , namely, the lower plate  440 , is provided with a projection (maintaining member)  470  which projects in the radial direction. The projection  470  is formed at the middle of the support portion  450 . The projection  470  is supported by the support portion  450  so as to be movable in the radial direction, in particular toward the center of the arc of the second arcuate portion  444 . 
         [0063]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 5 ,  8  and  17 , the operation member  400  is attached to the first member  210  of the housing  200  so that the projection  470  is located at a front end of the lower plate  440 . In detail, the operation member  400  is attached to the support hole  222  so that the upper plate  220  of the first member  210  and the recess  480  of the operation member  400  are engaged with each other. By this engagement, movements of the operation member  400  in the X-direction and in the Z-direction are prevented. Moreover, the second member  280  is fixed to the first member  210  as described above after the contact  300  and the operation member  400  are both attached to the first member  210 . When the second member  280  is fixed to the first member  210 , a movement of the operation member  400  in the Y-direction is prevented. As a result, the operation member  400  is practically only allowed to pivot about the pivot axis (AX). 
         [0064]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  12  and  13 , when the connector  10  is fabricated as described above, the locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  are located over the housing  200 . Moreover, the locked portions  420  are located in territory of the housing  200  in the XY-plane. The position of the operation member  400  at that time, or the position of the operation member  400  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  12  and  13 , is referred to as “release position”. The locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  at the release position do not protrude from the housing  200  in the XY-plane. 
         [0065]    The connector  10  explained above is mateable with and removable from the mating structure  90  as described below. 
         [0066]    As can be seen from  FIG. 12 , when the operation member  400  is located at the release position, the connector  10  can be mated with and can be removed from the mating structure  90  along the Z-direction with no interference by the lock housing  950 . In detail, the locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  at the release position does not prevent the connector  10  from being mated with the mating structure  90 . Moreover, the locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  at the release position does not prevent the connector  10  from being removed from the mating structure  90 . In other words, the locked portions  420  allow the connector  10  to be moved to the mated state with the mating structure  90  and to be removed from the mating structure  90  when the operation member  400  is located at the release position. 
         [0067]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 13 and 17 , when the connector  10  and the mating structure  90  is in the mated state, the contact portion  912  (see  FIG. 13 ) of the pin contact  910  is inserted into the receiving portion  320  of the contact  300  through the insertion hole  232  of the housing  200 . In detail, the contact portion  912  is inserted into the contact member  340  of the contact  300  to be in contact with the contact member  340 . In other words, the contact  300  is held by the housing  200  so as to be brought into contact with the pin contact  910  under the mated state. As can be seen from the above explanation, the connector  10  and the mating structure  90  are electrically connected with each other under the mated state. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  are located above the pin contact  910  under the mated state. In other words, a height of the contact portion  912  of the pin contact  910  according to the present embodiment is lower than another height of the housing  200 . Accordingly, electric shock due to contact with the pin contact  910  can be prevented more effectively. 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIG. 18 , when the operation member  400  is located at the release position, the projection  470  of the operation member  400  is located within the recess  252  of the housing  200  and, therefore, projects forward without being pressed by the front plate  250 . According to the present embodiment, the projection  470  of the operation member  400  at the releasing position is apart from the front plate  250 . However, a front end of the projection  470  may be in slight contact with the front plate  250 . 
         [0070]    As can be seen from  FIG. 18 , if the operation member  400  of the release position starts the rotational movement in the rotation direction, the projection  470  is brought into abutment with the front plate  250 . Accordingly, the operation member  400  is prevented from unintentionally rotating along the rotation direction, or from pivoting with no pivoting operation. Moreover, in a case where the recess  252  is formed to have a shape similar to that of the depression  242 , the operation member  400  can be also prevented from unintentionally rotating along a reverse rotation direction that is a direction opposite to the rotation direction. As can be seen from the above explanation, the projection  470  according to the present embodiment functions as the maintaining member  470  to maintain the operation member  400  at the release position. 
         [0071]    According to the present embodiment, when the operation member  400  of the release position is rotationally moved in the reverse rotation direction, the corner  448  of the operation member  400  is brought into abutment with the second member  280  of the housing  200 . Accordingly, the rotational movement of the operation member  400  in the reverse rotation direction is regulated. As can be seen from the above explanation, the operation member  400  according to the present embodiment includes a regulation portion, namely, the corner  448 , which regulates the rotational movement in the reverse rotation direction. 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  12  and  14 , when the operation portion  430  of the operation member  400  of the release position is operated to be rotationally moved in the rotation direction, the pivotable portion  410  of the operation member  400  is also rotationally moved in the rotation direction. When the pivotable portion  410  is rotationally moved in the rotation direction, the locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  are moved while gradually projecting from the housing  200  in the XY-plane (see  FIG. 14 ). 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , according to the present embodiment, in the XY-plane, the position of the pivot axis (AX) of the operation member  400  is apart from the center (CA) of the arc of the arcuate portion  962  by a distance DO. Accordingly, the locked portions  420  are moved in the rotation direction while passing under the lock portions  956  of the lock housing  950 , respectively. Since the locked portion  420  according to the present embodiment is provided with the slope  424 , the locked portion  420  can be moved under the lock portion  956  without being brought into abutment with the lock wall  954  of the lock housing  950  to be stopped. 
         [0074]    As can be seen from  FIG. 14 , as the operation member  400  is rotationally moved in the rotation direction, larger part of the locked portion  420  protrudes under the lock portion  956 . According to the present embodiment, when the operation member  400  is rotationally moved by 90° in the rotation direction, the two locked portions  420 , similar to each other, largely protrude under the lock portions  956 , respectively. The position of the operation member  400  at that time, or the position of the operation member  400  illustrated in  FIG. 14 , is referred to as “lock position”. 
         [0075]    The locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  at the lock position protrude from the housing  200  in the XY-plane so that a large area of the locked portion  420  is covered with the lock portion  956  in the Z-direction. Accordingly, when the operation member  400  is located at the lock position, the connector  10  cannot be removed from the mating structure  90  along the Z-direction. Moreover, the connector  10 , which is in a state where the operation member  400  is rotationally moved to the lock position, cannot be brought into mating with the mating structure  90 . In other words, the locked portions  420  interfere with the lock housing  950  to prevent the connector  10  from being moved to the mated state with the mating structure  90  and from being removed from the mating structure  90  when the operation member  400  is located at the lock position. 
         [0076]    In detail, the locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  at the lock position interfere with the lock portions  956 , or are locked by the lock portions  956 , respectively, to prevent the connector  10  from being removed from the mating structure  90 . Thus, when the operation member  400  of the connector  10  is rotationally moved from the release position to the lock position, the removal of the connector  10 , which is mated with the mating structure  90 , can be prevented. As a result, unintentional removal of the connector  10  can be more securely prevented. Moreover, the locked portions  420  of the operation member  400  at the lock position prevent the connector  10  from being mated with the mating structure  90 . 
         [0077]    As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 , according to the present embodiment, the operation member  400  of the release position is moved to the lock position by rotation of 90° in the rotation direction. In other words, according to the present embodiment, a predetermined pivoting angle, which is necessary to rotationally move the operation member  400  from the release position to the lock position, is 90°. The predetermined pivoting angle can be changed to an angle other than 90°, for example, by modifying the structures of the locked portion  420  and the lock portion  956 . However, the structure according to the present embodiment is preferable in order to more securely lock the locked portions  420  by the lock portions  956 , respectively. 
         [0078]    As can be seen from  FIG. 14 , the connector  10  in the mated state can be rotationally moved about the pin contact  910  in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction. For example, when the cable  800  (see  FIG. 1 ) connected to the connector  10  is swayed, the connector  10  might pivot. The connector  10  according to the present embodiment can be rotationally moved to a position where the housing  200  is brought into abutment with the lock housing  950 . Two-dot chain line in  FIG. 14  shows a part of the shape of the connector  10  in a state where the side plate  240  of the housing  200  is brought into abutment with the lock housing  950 , wherein the housing  200  is rotationally moved in the counterclockwise direction. According to the present embodiment, even if the connector  10  pivots as described above, the locked portions  420  are locked by the lock portions  956 , respectively. In other words, the locked portions  420  according to the present embodiment are formed to prevent the removal of the connector  10  even when the connector  10  pivots about the pin contact  910  in the XY-plane. 
         [0079]    Moreover, according to the present embodiment, when the operation member  400  is located at the lock position, the two locked portions  420  are locked evenly by the lock portions  956 . Accordingly, the unintentional removal of the connector  10  can be more surely prevented. However, the operation member  400  may be provided three or more of the locked portions  420 . In other words, it is sufficient for the operation member  400  according to the present embodiment to be provided with at least two of the locked portions  420 . Moreover, by modifying the size and the position of each of the locked portion  420  and the lock portion  956 , even only one of the locked portions  420  can prevent the unintentional removal of the connector  10 . 
         [0080]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 18 and 19 , when the operation member  400  is operated to pivot and starts to be rotationally moved from the release position (see  FIG. 18 ) toward the lock position (see  FIG. 19 ), the projection  470  is pressed by the front plate  250  of the housing  200  to be moved inward in the radial direction. When the operation member  400  is moved to the lock position, the projection  470  is located in the depression  242  to be moved outward in the radial direction. At that time, an operator of the operation member  400  can obtain a click feeling which enables the operator to recognize that the operation member  400  just reaches the lock position. 
         [0081]    As can be seen from  FIG. 19 , when the operation member  400  of the lock position starts to be rotationally moved in the reverse rotation direction, the projection  470  is brought into abutment with an edge of the depression  242 . Accordingly, the operation member  400  is prevented from unintentionally rotating along the reverse rotation direction, or from pivoting with no pivoting operation. As can be seen from the above description, the projection  470  according to the present embodiment also functions as the maintaining member  470  to maintain the operation member  400  at the lock position. In other words, the connector  10  according to the present embodiment includes the projection  470  which is the maintaining member to maintain the operation member  400  at each of the release position and the lock position. However, the maintaining member can be formed of a component other than the projection  470 . 
         [0082]    When the operation member  400  of the lock position is further moved rotationally in the rotation direction, the corner  448  of the operation member  400  is brought into abutment with the housing  200 . Accordingly, a rotation movement of the operation member  400  in the rotation direction is regulated. As can be seen from the above explanation, the operation member  400  according to the present embodiment includes another regulation portion, namely, the corner  448 , which regulates excessive rotation in the rotation direction. Thus, the operation member  400  according to the present embodiment can be rotationally moved from the release position just to the lock position along the rotation direction. 
         [0083]    As can be seen  FIGS. 14 ,  16  and  19 , the operation portion  430  of the operation member  400  of the lock position can be operated to be rotationally moved in the reverse rotation direction. When the operation portion  430  is operated to be rotationally moved in the reverse rotation direction, the projection  470  is pressed by the front plate  250  of the housing  200  to be moved inward in the radial direction (see  FIG. 19 ). When the operation member  400  is moved to the release position, the projection  470  is located in the recess  252  to be moved outward in the radial direction. At that time, the operator of the operation member  400  can obtain a click feeling which enables the operator to recognize that the operation member  400  just reaches to the release position. As can be seen from the above explanation, the operation member  400  can be rotationally moved just between the release position and the lock position. 
         [0084]    As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 , when the operation member  400  is located at the release position, the positioning mark  410 M of the operation member  400  is located apart from the positioning mark  220 M of the housing  200  along the rotation direction. According to the present embodiment, the positioning mark  410 M and the positioning mark  220 M are separated by 90° along the rotation direction. Accordingly, when the operation member  400  is located at the lock position, the positioning mark  410 M faces the positioning mark  220 M in the X-direction. According to the present embodiment, the positional relation between the positioning mark  410 M and the positioning mark  220 M enables recognition about the position of the operation member  400 . In particular, according to the present embodiment, facing corners of the positioning mark  410 M and the positioning mark  220 M enable recognition that the operation member  400  is located at the lock position. However, each of the positioning mark  410 M and the positioning mark  220 M may have a shape different from that of the present embodiment. 
         [0085]    Although the specific explanation about the embodiment of the present invention is made above, the connector according to the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiment but can be variously modified. 
         [0086]    For example, the present invention can be applied to also a connector other than the cable connector. Moreover, the lock housing of the mating structure may be formed in a shape different from that of the aforementioned embodiment. For example, the arcuate portion of the lock housing may be provided so as to be a large distance from the front end of the connector in the mated state. Moreover, the arcuate portion may have, for example, one-third circle shape. In this case, the position of the pivot axis of the operating member may be same as that of the center of the arc of the arcuate portion. Moreover, the arcuate portion may be formed of a plurality of unconnected arcuate portions, or may be formed of a plurality of linear portions to have a shape similar to an arc. Moreover, the lock housing can be provided with no arcuate portion. 
         [0087]    The present application is based on a Japanese patent application of JP2012-249661 filed before the Japan Patent Office on Nov. 13, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0088]    While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0089]      10  connector 
         [0090]      200  housing 
         [0091]      210  first member 
         [0092]      220  upper plate 
         [0093]      220 U upper surface 
         [0094]      220 M positioning mark 
         [0095]      222  support hole 
         [0096]      224  engagement hole 
         [0097]      226  step 
         [0098]      230  bottom plate 
         [0099]      232  insertion hole 
         [0100]      234  engagement hole 
         [0101]      236  step 
         [0102]      240  side plate 
         [0103]      242  depression 
         [0104]      250  front plate 
         [0105]      252  recess 
         [0106]      260  rear plate 
         [0107]      262  connection hole 
         [0108]      270  accommodation portion 
         [0109]      280  second member 
         [0110]      282  engagement projection 
         [0111]      300  contact 
         [0112]      310  body portion 
         [0113]      320  receiving portion 
         [0114]      322  inner wall 
         [0115]      330  connection portion 
         [0116]      340  contact member 
         [0117]      400  operation member 
         [0118]      410  pivotable portion 
         [0119]      410 U upper surface 
         [0120]      410 M positioning mark 
         [0121]      412  columnar portion 
         [0122]      414  side portion 
         [0123]      420  locked portion 
         [0124]      422  planar portion 
         [0125]      424  slope 
         [0126]      430  operation portion 
         [0127]      440  lower plate 
         [0128]      442  first arcuate portion 
         [0129]      444  second arcuate portion 
         [0130]      446  tangential portion 
         [0131]      448  corner 
         [0132]      450  support portion 
         [0133]      460  groove 
         [0134]      470  projection (maintaining member) 
         [0135]      480  recess 
         [0136]    AX pivot axis 
         [0137]      800  cable 
         [0138]      850  crimping member 
         [0139]      90  mating structure 
         [0140]      90 U upper surface 
         [0141]      92  holding hole 
         [0142]      910  pin contact 
         [0143]      912  contact portion 
         [0144]      914  held portion 
         [0145]      916  connection portion 
         [0146]      950  lock housing 
         [0147]      952  sidewall 
         [0148]      954  lock wall 
         [0149]      956  lock portion 
         [0150]      962  arcuate portion 
         [0151]      964  linear portion 
         [0152]    CA center 
         [0153]    CP center

Technology Classification (CPC): 8