Patent Abstract:
This lever-type connector ( 1 ) having: a first connector ( 11 ); a second connector ( 21 ); and a lever ( 31 ) that fits the connectors ( 11, 21 ) together by being rotated. The first connector ( 11 ) has an engagement lock part ( 14 ) that is inserted through an attachment hole ( 52 ) by being bent and deformed toward the inner surface side at the time of attaching the first connector to the attachment hole ( 52 ). The lever ( 31 ) has an arm part ( 32 ) that is located on the inner surface side of the first connector ( 11 ) during the rotation of the lever ( 31 ). The arm part ( 32 ) has: a deformation permitting part ( 37 ) that permits the bending deformation thereof when the lever ( 31 ) is at a rotation position where the connectors ( 11, 21 ) are in a half-fitted state; and a deformation preventing part ( 36 ) that prevents the bending deformation thereof.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a lever-type connector to be attached to a panel. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A conventional lever-type connector to be attached to a panel includes: a first connector; a second connector fittable to the first connector; and a lever provided on the first connector and configured to be turned to fit the first connector and the second connector to each other. Here, the first connector and the second connector in a fitted state are attached to an attachment hole in a panel (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-359037). 
     In this lever-type connector, the lever is provided with an interference portion in order to prevent the connectors in an incompletely fitted state from being attached to the panel. The interference portion does not interfere with a hole edge of the attachment hole in the panel when the connectors are in a completely fitted state. The interference portion interferes with the hole edge of the attachment hole when the connectors are in the incompletely fitted state. 
     Accordingly, in the process of attaching the connectors to the attachment hole in the panel, it is possible to detect a fitted state of the connectors based on whether or not the interference portion interferes with the hole edge of the attachment hole. 
     When the connectors are fitted into the attachment hole in the state where the interference portion does not interfere with the hole edge of the attachment hole (the state where the connectors are properly fitted to each other), an elastic retaining piece formed on the interference portion is inserted through the attachment hole and locks the hole edge of the attachment hole from the back side. Thus, the connectors are attached to the panel. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-359037 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In the above-described lever-type connector, the connectors transition from the incompletely fitted state to the completely fitted state depending on the turning angle of the lever. For this reason, when the tuning angle of the lever is close to the angle corresponding to the completely fitted state, the interference by the interference portion with the hole edge of the attachment hole is so small that the connectors may be fitted into the attachment hole in spite of the incompletely fitted state. In such a case, it is difficult to detect that the connectors are in the incompletely fitted state. 
     Meanwhile, the elastic retaining piece is designed to be elastically deformed by the hole edge of the attachment hole when the lever-type connector is fitted into the attachment hole. For this reason, if the elastic retaining piece is elastically deformed by an external force after the connectors are attached to the attachment hole in the panel, the connectors may come off the attachment hole. 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lever-type connector capable of solving the existing challenge to prevent the connectors in an incompletely fitted state from being attached to a panel, and also preventing the connectors from coming off the panel. 
     Solution to Problem 
     For the purpose of achieving the foregoing object, a lever-type connector according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a first connector; a second connector fittable to the first connector; and a lever provided on any one of the first connector and the second connector, and configured to be turned to fit the first connector and the second connector to each other. The first connector and the second connector in a fitted state are attached to an attachment hole in a panel. The one connector includes a lock portion designed to be flexurally deformed toward its inner surface side and inserted through the attachment hole in the course of attaching the connectors to the attachment hole. The lever includes: an arm portion located on the inner surface side of the one connector while the lever is being turned; and a panel contact part configured to turn the lever by coming into contact with a hole edge of the attachment hole in a state where the lock portion is inserted through the attachment hole. The arm portion includes: a deformation allowing part designed to allow flexural deformation of the lock portion by being located on an inner surface side of the lock portion when the lever is situated in a turning position to bring the first connector and the second connector into an incompletely fitted state; and a deformation blocking part designed to block the flexural deformation of the lock portion by being located on the inner surface side of the lock portion when the lever is situated in a turning position to bring the first connector and the second connector into a completely fitted state. The lever is turned to the turning position to bring the first connector and the second connector into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part against the hole edge while keeping the panel contact part in contact with the hole edge. 
     In the lever-type connector, the deformation allowing part may include a recessed groove portion provided in a surface of the arm portion, and the deformation blocking part may include the surface of the arm portion excluding the recessed groove portion. 
     Furthermore, in the lever-type connector, the lever further includes an operating portion configured to perform a turning operation of the lever, and the lever is turned by the turning operation of the operating portion, or by pressing the panel contact part against the hole edge while keeping the panel contact part in contact with the hole edge. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the lever-type connector of the first aspect of the present invention, when the connectors are in the incompletely fitted state, the deformation allowing part is located on the inner surface side of the lock portion. Thus, the flexural deformation of the lock portion is allowed and the connectors can be attached to the attachment hole in a panel. 
     On the other hand, when the connectors are brought into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part against the hole edge while keeping the panel contact part in contact with the hole edge, the deformation blocking part is located on the inner surface side of the lock portion. Thus, the flexural deformation of the lock portion is blocked and the completely fitted connectors can be prevented from coming off the attachment hole in the panel. 
     Meanwhile, the lever is turned to the turning position to bring the connectors into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part against the hole edge while keeping the panel contact part in contact with the hole edge. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the connectors in the incompletely fitted state from being attached to the panel. 
     Thus, it is possible to provide the lever-type connector capable of preventing the connectors in the incompletely fitted state from being attached to the panel, and preventing the connectors from coming off the panel. 
     According to the lever-type connector, the deformation allowing part may include the recessed groove provided in the surface of the arm portion while the deformation blocking part may include the surface of the arm portion excluding the recessed groove. Thus, the flexural deformation of the lock portion can be blocked or allowed by using the simple structures. 
     Meanwhile, according to the lever-type connector, the connectors can be brought into the completely fitted state by: bringing the connectors into the incompletely fitted state by using the operating portion; and then pressing the panel contact part against the hole edge while keeping the panel contact part in contact with the hole edge. Thus, a fitting operation of the connectors can be easily achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a lever-type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a lever according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention, which are in an incompletely fitted state. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing relations between lock portions and arm portions when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the incompletely fitted state. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing a position of a deformation allowing part when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the incompletely fitted state. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention, which are in a completely fitted state. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing relations between the lock portions and the arm portions when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the completely fitted state. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view showing a position of a deformation blocking part when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the completely fitted state. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a configuration of a lever-type connector according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the lever-type connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a lever according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     The lever-type connector according to the embodiment of the present invention relates to an LIF (low insertion force) connector which causes male and female connectors (a first connector and a second connector to be described later), each including multiple terminal tags, to be fitted to each other with a low insertion force. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a lever-type connector  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes: a first connector  11 ; a second connector  21  fittable to the first connector  11 ; and a lever  31  provided on the first connector  11  and configured to be turned to fit the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  to each other. 
     Further, with the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  incompletely fitted to each other, the lever-type connector  1  configured as described above is fitted into an attachment hole  52  formed in a panel  51  to be described later. 
     After the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are fitted into the attachment hole  52  to be described later, the connectors  11  and  21  are brought into a completely fitted state by turning the lever  31  while pressing the lever-type connector  1  against the later-described panel  51 . Thus, the connectors  11  and  21  are attached to the panel  51 . 
     The first connector  11  (the female connector) includes: an inner housing  12  configured to house female terminal tags (not shown) provided on a cable terminal; and a frame  13  configured to enclose the inner housing  12 . 
     The inner housing  12  has a structure in which two housing components are vertically superposed. The multiple female terminal tags (not shown) are housed inside the inner housing  12 . The inner housing  12  is enclosed in the frame  13 . 
     The frame  13  includes: multiple (four in the embodiment of the present invention) lock portions  14  which are flexurally deformably provided; a flange portion  15  provided on the outer periphery of the frame  13 ; and a pair of rotating shaft holes  16  (one of which is not shown), into which rotating shaft pins  34  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the lever  31  to be described later are inserted. 
     Each of the multiple lock portions  14  includes: a lock projecting part  17  which projects to the outside of the first connector  11  (for example, a side in an arrow X direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later); and a lock contact part  18  provided on the inside of the first connector  11  (for example, a side in an arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later) and contactable with the lever  31  (see  FIG. 4  to be described later). 
     In addition, when the multiple lock portions  14  configured as described above are attached to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51  to be described later, each of the lock portions  14  is inserted through the attachment hole  52  to be described later while being flexurally deformed toward an inner surface side of the first connector  11  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later). 
     When the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  in the incompletely fitted state are pressed toward a front face side of the panel  51  (a side in an arrow Z direction in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4  to be described later), the lock projecting parts  17  come into contact with the later-described panel  51  from its rear face side  54  (see  FIG. 1 ), and thereby fix the connectors  11  and  21  to the panel  51  (see  FIG. 4  to be described later). 
     The lock contact parts  18  come into contact with deformation blocking parts  36  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the lever  31  to be described later, thereby blocking the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14 . In addition, when the lock contact parts  18  come out of contact with the lever  31  with the assistance of deformation allowing parts  37  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the lever  31  to be described later, the lock contact parts  18  allow the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  (see  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 8  to be described later). 
     When the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  in the completely fitted state are attached to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 , the flange portion  15  comes into contact with a hole edge  53  from the front face side (the side in the arrow Z direction in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4  to be described later) of the panel  51  to be described later (see  FIG. 6(   b ) to be described later). 
     The pair of rotating shaft pins  34  (see  FIG. 2 ) provided on the lever  31  to be described later are respectively inserted into the pair of rotating shaft holes  16  from an inner wall side of the first connector  11 . As a consequence of the insertion of the rotating shaft pins  34  into the rotating shaft holes  16 , the lever  31  is rotatably attached to the first connector  11  (the frame  13 ). 
     The second connector  21  has a structure in which two housing components larger than the inner housing  12  are vertically superposed. The multiple male terminal tags (not shown) are housed inside the second connector  21 . When the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are brought into the completely fitted state, the male terminal tags are connected to the female terminal tags (not shown) housed inside the inner housing  12 . 
     Meanwhile, cam followers  22  (one of which is not shown) to be inserted into cam grooves  35  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the lever  31  to be described later are respectively provided in a projecting manner on two side surfaces of the second connector  21 . By inserting the cam followers  22  into the cam grooves  35  and then turning the lever  31 , the second connector  21  is drawn into the first connector  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lever  31  includes: a pair of arm portions  32 , each of which is located on the inner surface side (for example, the side in the arrow X direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later) of the first connector  11  (see  FIG. 1 ) when the lever  31  is turned; and a connecting portion  33  that connects the pair of arm portions  32 . 
     The pair of arm portions  32  include: the pair of rotating shaft pins  34  (one of which is not shown) to be inserted into the rotating shaft holes  16  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the frame  13 ; the pair of cam grooves  35  into which the cam followers  22  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the second connector  21  are inserted; the deformation blocking parts  36  which block the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  of the frame  13 ; and the deformation allowing parts  37  which allow the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14 . 
     The pair of rotating shaft pins  34  are inserted into the rotating shaft holes  16  (see  FIG. 1 ) from the inner wall side of the first connector  11 . Thus, the lever  31  is rotatably attached to the first connector  11  (the frame  13 ). 
     The cam grooves  35  are respectively formed on the pair of arm portions  32 . When the lever  31  is turned with the cam followers  22  (see  FIG. 1 ) inserted in the cam grooves  35 , the distance between each cam follower  22  and the corresponding rotating shaft pin  34  is changed whereby the second connector  21  moves toward the first connector  11  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The deformation blocking parts  36  are formed from the surfaces of the arm portions  32  excluding the recessed grooves (the deformation allowing parts  37 ) formed in those surfaces. Each of the deformation blocking parts  36  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later) when the lever  31  is situated in a turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the completely fitted state. Thus, the deformation blocking parts  36  block the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  to be described later). 
     In other words, when each of the deformation blocking parts  36  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later), the deformation blocking part  36  is in contact with the lock contact part  18  of the corresponding lock portion  14  and blocks the flexural deformation of the lock portion  14 . 
     Each of the deformation allowing parts  37  is formed from the recessed groove provided in the surface of the corresponding arm portion  32 . Each deformation allowing part  37  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  when the lever  31  is situated in a turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the incompletely fitted state. Thus, the deformation allowing parts  37  allow the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  (see  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  to be described later). 
     In other words, when each of the deformation allowing parts  37  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later), the lock contact part  18  of the lock portion  14  is out of contact with the corresponding arm portion  32  of the lever  31 . Thus, the deformation allowing parts  37  allow the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14 . 
     As described above, the deformation allowing parts  37  are formed from the recessed grooves provided in the surfaces of the arm portions  32 , while the deformation blocking parts  36  are formed from the surfaces of the arm portions  32  excluding the recessed grooves. As a consequence, the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  can be blocked or allowed by using the simple structures. 
     When the lever  31  is situated in the turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the incompletely fitted state (for example, a position of the lever  31  shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 ), each of the above-described arm portions  32  is displaced in response to the turn of the lever  31  in such a way as to locate the corresponding deformation allowing part  37  on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later). 
     In the meantime, when the lever  31  is situated in the turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the completely fitted state (for example, the position of the lever  31  shown in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 ), each of the arm portions  32  is displaced in response to the turn of the lever  31  in such a way as to locate the corresponding deformation blocking part  36  on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later). 
     Hence, each of the arm portions  32  is provided with the deformation blocking part  36  and the deformation allowing part  37  corresponding to the turning angles of the lever  31  in such a way that either one of the deformation blocking part  36  and the deformation allowing part  37  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later) depending on the turning position of the lever  31 . 
     The connecting portion  33  includes: an operating portion  38  which is subjected to a tuning operation when the lever  31  is turned to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the incompletely fitted state; and a panel contact part  39  configured to turn the lever  31  by causing the lock portions  14 , which are in the state of being inserted through the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51  to be described later, to come into contact with the hole edge  53  of the attachment hole  51  to be described later. 
     The panel  51  is provided with: the attachment hole  52  having a vertical ellipsoidal shape and allowing the insertion of the lock portions  14 ; the hole edge  53  with which the flange portion  15  is contactable; and the rear surface side  54  with which the lock projecting parts  17  are contactable (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     When the lever  31  is turned by operating the operating portion  38  in an arrow A direction in  FIG. 2 , the connecting portion  33  is displaced along an arc around the rotating shaft pins  34  (the rotation center). 
     The panel contact part  39  is formed into a plate shape and provided to protrude outward from the lever  31 . When the panel contact part  39  is pressed against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53  of the panel  51 , the panel contact part  39  turns the lever  31 , thereby bringing the first connector  11  and the second connector  21 , being brought into the incompletely fitted state by using the operating portion  38 , further into the completely fitted state. 
     Thus, it is possible to establish the completely fitted state of the connectors  11  and  21  by: bringing the connectors  11  and  21  into the incompletely fitted state by using the operating portion  38 ; and then pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 . Hence, a fitting operation of the connectors  11  and  21  can be achieved easily. 
     In addition, since the connectors  11  and  21  are brought into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 , it is possible to reliably prevent the connectors  11  and  21  in the incompletely fitted state from being attached to the panel  51 . 
     Moreover, the above-described first connector  11  and second connector  21  in the incompletely fitted state are fitted into the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 . Then, the lever  31  is pressed against the panel  51  and the connectors  11  and  21  in the completely fitted state are thus attached to the panel  51  (see  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 8  to be described later). 
     Next, the fitting operation of the lever-type connector according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 3(   a ) is a perspective view showing the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention, which are in the incompletely fitted state.  FIG. 3  ( b ) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 3(   a ). 
     Meanwhile,  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing relations between the lock portions and the arm portions when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the incompletely fitted state.  FIG. 5  is a side view showing a position of a deformation allowing part when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the incompletely fitted state. 
     Further,  FIG. 6(   a ) is a perspective view showing the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention, which are in the completely fitted state.  FIG. 6(   b ) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 6(   a ).  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing relations between the lock portions and the arm portions when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the completely fitted state.  FIG. 8  is a side view showing a position of a deformation blocking part when the connectors according to the embodiment of the present invention are in the completely fitted state. 
     When the second connector  21  is fitted to the first connector  11 , the rotating shaft pins  34  of the lever  31  are first inserted into the rotating shaft holes  16  in the frame  13 . Thus, the lever  31  is rotatably attached to the first connector  11  (the frame  13 ) (see  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , for example). 
     After the lever  31  is attached to the first connector  11 , the second connector  21  is slightly fitted into the frame  13  while holding the lever  31  at an initial position (such as a position shown in  FIG. 1 ). Thus, the cam followers  22  are inserted into the cam grooves  35 . 
     When the operating portion  38  of the lever  31  is subjected to the turning operation with the cam followers  22  inserted in the cam grooves  35 , the distance between each cam follower  22  and the corresponding rotating shaft pin  34  becomes shorter and the second connector  21  is drawn into the first connector  11 . 
     Then, after the lever  31  is turned to the position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the incompletely fitted state (the position of the lever  31  shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 ), the connectors  11  and  21  are fitted into the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51  as shown in  FIG. 3(   a ) and  FIG. 3(   b ). 
     Here, when the lever  31  is situated in the turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the incompletely fitted state (the position of the lever  31  shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 ), each of the deformation allowing parts  37  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4 ) as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . 
     For this reason, as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the lock contact parts  18  of the lock portions  14  are out of contact with arm portions  32  of the lever  31 . Thus, the deformation allowing parts  37  allow the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14 . 
     Moreover, since the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  is allowed, when the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are fitted into the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 , each of the lock portions  14  is flexurally deformed toward the inner surface side of the first connector  11  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4 ) by a force to press the connectors  11  and  21  toward the front face side of the panel  51  (the side in the arrow Z direction in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ), and is thereby inserted through the attachment hole  52  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     After the lock portions  14  are inserted through the attachment hole  52 , each of the flexurally deformed lock portions  14  restores its original form, and the lock projecting parts  17  come into contact with the panel  51  from the rear surface side  54  (see  FIG. 4 ). In addition, when the lock portions  14  are inserted through the attachment hole  52 , the panel contact part  39  of the lever  31  comes into contact with the hole edge  53  as shown in  FIG. 3(   b ). 
     Then, while the panel contact part  39  is in contact with the hole edge  53 , the lever-type connector  1  is pressed toward the front face side of the panel  51  (the side in the arrow Z direction in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4(   a )). Thus, the panel contact part  39  is pressed against the hole edge  53 . 
     When the panel contact part  39  is pressed against the hole edge  53 , the lever  31  is turned from the position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the incompletely fitted state (the position shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 ) to the position to bring the connectors  11  and  21  into the completely fitted state (the position shown in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 ). Thus, the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are fitted to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51  (see  FIG. 6(   a ) and  FIG. 6(   b )). 
     When the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are brought into the completely fitted state, the female terminal tags (not shown) of the first connector  11  are connected to the male terminal tags (not shown) of the second connector  21  to achieve conduction. 
     Here, when the lever  31  is situated in the turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the completely fitted state (the position of the lever  31  shown in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 ), each of the deformation blocking parts  36  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  (for example, the side in the arrow Y direction in  FIG. 4  to be described later) as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . 
     For this reason, as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the lock contact parts  18  of the lock portions  14  come into contact with the deformation blocking parts  36 . Thus, the deformation blocking parts  36  block the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14 . 
     As described above, when the lever  31  is situated in the turning position (the position of the lever  31  shown in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 ) to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the completely fitted state, the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  is blocked by the deformation blocking parts  36 , and the lock portions  14  cannot be inserted through the attachment hole  52 . 
     For this reason, the lock portions  14  are not flexurally deformed even when an external force is applied to the lock portions  14  after the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are attached to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 . Thus, it is possible to prevent the connectors  11  and  21  from coming off the attachment hole  52 . 
     When the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are brought into the completely fitted state, the flange portion  15  comes into contact with the hole edge  53  from the front face side (the side in the arrow Z direction in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ) of the panel  51 . Thus, the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  are fixed to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51  (see  FIG. 6(   b )). 
     Thus, the deformation allowing parts  37  are located on the inner surface sides of the lock portions  14  when the connectors  11  and  21  are in the completely fitted state. Accordingly, the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  is allowed and the connectors  11  and  21  can be attached to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 . 
     In the meantime, when the connectors  11  and  21  are brought into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 , the deformation blocking parts  36  are located on the inner surface sides of the lock portions  14 . Accordingly, the flexural deformation of the lock portions  14  is blocked and the completely fitted connectors  11  and  21  can be prevented from coming off the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 . 
     Meanwhile, the lever  31  is turned to the turning position to bring the connectors  11  and  21  into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 . Accordingly, the connectors  11  and  21  in the incompletely fitted state can be reliably prevented from being attached to the panel  51 . 
     As described above, the lever-type connector  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes: the first connector  11 ; the second connector  21  fittable to the first connector; and the lever  31  provided on any one of the first connector  11  and the second connector  21 , and configured to be turned to fit the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  to each other. The first connector  11  and the second connector  21  in the fitted state are attached to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 . The one connector  11  includes the lock portions  14  which are flexurally deformed toward the inner surface sides and inserted through the attachment hole  52  when the connectors are attached to the attachment hole  52 . The lever  31  includes: the arm portions  32  located on the inner surface sides of the one connector  11  when the lever  31  is turned; and the panel contact part  39  which turns the lever  31  by coming into contact with the hole edge  53  of the attachment hole  52  in the state where the lock portions  14  are inserted through the attachment hole  52 . Each arm portion  32  includes: the deformation allowing part  37  allowing the flexural deformation by being located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  when the lever  31  is situated in the turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the incompletely fitted state, thereby allowing the flexural deformation; and the deformation blocking part  36  blocking the flexural deformation by being located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14  when the lever  31  is situated in the turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the completely fitted state. The lever  31  is turned to the turning position to bring the first connector  11  and the second connector  21  into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 . 
     Moreover, in the lever-type connector  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention, each deformation allowing part  37  is formed from the recessed groove portion provided in the surface of the arm portion  32 , while each deformation blocking part  36  is formed from the surface of the arm portion  32  excluding the recessed groove portion. 
     In addition, in the lever-type connector  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lever  31  further includes the operating portion  38  configured to perform the turning operation of the lever  31 . Here, the lever  31  is turned by the turning operation of the operating portion  38  or by pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 . 
     Furthermore, according to the lever-type connector  1  of the embodiment of the present invention, when the connectors  11  and  21  are in the incompletely fitted state, the deformation allowing part  37  is located on the inner surface side of the corresponding lock portion  14 . As a consequence, the flexural deformation of the lock portion  14  is allowed, whereby the connectors  11  and  21  can be attached to the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 . 
     In the meantime, when the connectors  11  and  21  are brought into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part  39  against the edge hole  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 , the deformation blocking part  36  is located on the inner surface side of the lock portion  14 . Accordingly, the lock portion  14  is inhibited from the flexural deformation, and the completely fitted connectors  11  and  21  can be prevented from coming off the attachment hole  52  in the panel  51 . 
     In addition, the lever  31  is turned to the turning position to bring the connectors  11  and  21  into the completely fitted state by pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 . Accordingly, the connectors  11  and  21  in the incompletely fitted state can be reliably prevented from being attached to the panel  51 . 
     Thus, it is possible to provide the lever-type connector  1  capable of preventing the connectors  11  and  21  in the incompletely fitted state from being attached to the panel  51 , and preventing the connectors  11  and  21  from coming off the panel  51 . 
     Moreover, in the lever-type connector  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention, the deformation allowing part  37  is formed from the recessed groove provided in the surface of the arm portion  32 , while the deformation blocking part  36  is formed from the surface of the arm portion  32  excluding the recessed groove. As a consequence, the flexural deformation of the lock portion  14  can be blocked or allowed by using the simple structures. 
     Furthermore, in the lever-type connector  1  of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to establish the completely fitted state of the connectors  11  and  21  by: bringing the connectors  11  and  21  into the incompletely fitted state by using the operating portion  38 ; and then pressing the panel contact part  39  against the hole edge  53  while keeping the panel contact part  39  in contact with the hole edge  53 . Hence, the fitting operation of the connectors  11  and  21  can be achieved easily. 
     The lever-type connector according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above on the basis of the illustrated embodiment. It is to be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment. The configurations of the components therein may be replaced with other arbitrary configurations having similar functions thereto. 
     For example, the foregoing descriptions have been provided for the embodiment in which the lock portions  14  are provided at the four positions on the frame  13 . However, the number of the lock portions  14  can be changed as appropriate. 
     In such a case, at least one of the lock portions  14  is to be disposed in such a position to locate the deformation allowing part  37  on the inner surface side of the lock portion  14  when the connectors  11  and  21  are in the incompletely fitted state and to locate the deformation blocking part  36  on the inner surface side when the connectors  11  and  21  are in the completely fitted mode. Thus, it is possible to achieve the same operation and effects as those of the lever-type connector according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is extremely useful for preventing incompletely fitted connectors of a lever-type connector from being attached to a panel, and for preventing the connectors of the lever-type connector from coming off the panel.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7