Patent Description:
In an airbag system for vehicles, an electric signal is supplied to an ignition device to activate an inflator, whereupon an airbag is filled with gas generated from the inflator and thereby inflated. The electric signal used for activating the inflator is supplied to the ignition device through an electric wire when a connector joined with an end of the electric wire is fitted to a counter connector installed in the ignition device.

If the connector is not completely fitted with the counter connector and is in an incomplete fitting state such as a so-called half fitting state, it may be difficult to supply the electric signal to the ignition device and properly activate the airbag system. Accordingly, there has been developed a connector having a function of automatically rejecting such an incomplete fitting state.

For instance, <CIT> discloses a connector <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. A rear portion of a housing <NUM> is covered by a cover member <NUM>, and two electric wires <NUM> are drawn from the cover member <NUM> to the rear of the connector <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a slider <NUM> is disposed in the cover member <NUM> to be slidable with respect to the housing <NUM> and receives an elastic force acting forward, from a plate spring <NUM>. The slider <NUM> has a pair of elastically deformable lock pieces 6A protruding toward a counter connector <NUM> situated in front of the slider <NUM>, and restriction portions 2A of the housing <NUM> make contact with the inner sides of the lock pieces 6A so that the lock pieces 6A are prevented from deforming inward.

When the connector <NUM> is pushed toward the counter connector <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, projections 6B of the lock pieces 6A interfere with the edge of a recessed portion 8A of the counter connector <NUM>, so that the slider <NUM> slides with respect to the housing <NUM> against the elastic force of the plate spring <NUM>, and owing to this, the lock pieces 6A are displaced from the restriction portions 2A of the housing <NUM>. Consequently, the lock pieces 6A elastically deform inward whereby the interference between the projections 6B of the lock pieces 6A and the edge of the recessed portion 8A of the counter connector <NUM> is released, the slider <NUM> slides forward due to a restoring force of the plate spring <NUM>, and the lock pieces 6A are inserted into the recessed portion 8A of the counter connector <NUM>.

As a result, as shown in <FIG>, the projections 6B of the lock pieces 6A are accommodated in a groove 8C formed at the inner peripheral surface of the recessed portion 8A of the counter connector <NUM>, and contacts of the connector <NUM> that are coupled with ends of the electric wires <NUM> are electrically connected to contacts of the counter connector <NUM>. Thus, the connector <NUM> and the counter connector <NUM> are completely fitted to each other.

In the state where the projections 6B of the lock pieces 6A are not completely accommodated in the groove 8C of the counter connector <NUM>, if the operator releases the operator's hand from the connector <NUM> in the middle of pushing the connector <NUM> toward the counter connector <NUM>, the connector <NUM> comes off the counter connector <NUM> due to the restoring force of the plate spring <NUM>. Thus, an incomplete fitting state is automatically rejected.

However, if the connector <NUM> is pushed toward the counter connector <NUM> obliquely with respect to the fitting direction and, for instance, merely one of the pair of lock pieces 6A of the slider <NUM> is accommodated in the groove 8C of the counter connector <NUM> with the other lock piece 6A being not accommodated in the groove 8C, a large frictional force would be generated between the slider <NUM> and the counter connector <NUM>. If this frictional force is larger than the restoring force of the plate spring <NUM>, the connector <NUM> would not come off the counter connector <NUM> even when the operator releases the operator's hand from the connector <NUM>, so that an incomplete fitting state would be maintained.

In recent years, there has been a tendency to install airbags not only in a steering wheel or a dashboard of a vehicle but in various places inside the vehicle, and when an ignition device is situated at a position that is hard to see for operators who manufacture the vehicle or carry out other operations such as inspections, the operators may need to fit the connector <NUM> to the counter connector <NUM> without direct visual observation, in other words, need to do so-called blind mating. In such cases, the connector <NUM> tends to be obliquely pushed toward the counter connector <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a connector with a lock mechanism.

<CIT> discloses a connector assembly with a spring operated secondary lock.

The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problem described above and is aimed at providing a connector that can prevent oblique fitting from easily occurring while having an automatic incomplete-fitting rejection function with respect to a counter connector.

A connector according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

<FIG> show a connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> and a cover member <NUM> holding a rear portion of the housing <NUM>, and two electric wires C extend rearward from the rear end of the cover member <NUM> in parallel to each other. A slider <NUM> is disposed to be slidable with respect to the housing <NUM>, and a collar member <NUM> is disposed outside the cover member <NUM> and the slider <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> has a front tubular portion 21A extending frontward beyond the front end of the cover member <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> includes: a body portion 31A situated behind the front tubular portion 21A of the housing <NUM>; and a fitting force applying portion 31B closing the rear end of the body portion 31A and protruding rearward.

The fitting force applying portion 31B of the cover member <NUM> has a first outer surface 31C and a second outer surface 31D that are a pair of flat outer surfaces inclined to approach each other toward the rear end of the cover member <NUM>. The two electric wires C extend rearward from between the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D.

A part of the slider <NUM> is exposed to a front of the cover member <NUM>. The collar member <NUM> has a ring shape covering the outer peripheries of the cover member <NUM> and the slider <NUM>.

For convenience, the direction from the two electric wires C toward the front tubular portion 21A of the housing <NUM> is called "+X direction," the direction in which the two electric wires C are arranged in parallel "Y direction," and the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction "Z direction.

The +X direction is a fitting direction of the connector <NUM>.

The first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D of the cover member <NUM> are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the Z direction (second direction) and to be symmetrical with respect to an XY plane and are substantially identical in size. The first outer surface 31C forms a flat inclined surface facing the -X direction and the -Z direction, and the second outer surface 31D forms a flat inclined surface facing the -X direction and the +Z direction.

Outer surfaces inclined or curved toward the -X direction are also present at the opposite ends, in the Y direction, of the fitting force applying portion 31B protruding to the rear of the cover member <NUM>. However, the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D spaced apart from each other in the Z direction are larger than the outer surfaces aligning in the Y direction and are substantially identical to each other in size, and are arranged to be symmetrical with respect to an XY plane; thus, the cover member <NUM> has such a shape as to urge the operator carrying out the fitting operation of the connector <NUM> to put the operator's fingers on the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D to push the connector <NUM> in the +X direction.

<FIG> shows an exploded perspective view of the connector <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> is formed by joining together a first cover <NUM> and a second cover <NUM> that are disposed on the opposite sides, in the Z direction, of the two electric wires C extending in the X direction to sandwich the two electric wires C therebetween.

The slider <NUM> is retained in the housing <NUM> to be slidable in the X direction that is the fitting direction, and an elastic member <NUM> constituted of a coil spring is disposed between the first cover <NUM> and the slider <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> serves to exert an elastic force on the slider <NUM> along the X direction.

Socket-type contacts <NUM> made of a conductive material and retained in the housing <NUM> are separately connected to the +X directional ends of the two electric wires C. Further, a ferrite member <NUM> having two through-holes extending in the X direction and arranged in the Y direction is retained in the cover member <NUM>. The ferrite member <NUM> allows the two electric wires C coupled with the contacts <NUM> to pass through the two through-holes and provides electromagnetic shielding thereto.

As shown in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> is made of an insulating material such as resin and has such a shape that the front tubular portion 21A occupying a +X direction-side portion of the housing <NUM> and a rear tubular portion 21B occupying a -X direction-side portion of the housing <NUM> and being larger in diameter than the front tubular portion 21A are joined to be coaxial along the X direction.

Openings 21C are formed separately in lateral portions of the front tubular portion 21A on the +Y direction side and the -Y direction side. A pair of lock pieces 21D are formed to extend frontward along the fitting direction, i.e., toward the +X direction, separately from the +Y direction-side end and the -Y direction-side end of the rear tubular portion 21B on the outside of the front tubular portion 21A. These lock pieces 21D are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction (first direction) and formed to be elastically deformable in the Y direction, and are each disposed outside the corresponding opening 21C of the front tubular portion 21A. Each lock piece 21D is provided at its +X directional end with a projection 21E projecting outward from the housing <NUM> in the Y direction.

Further, cutouts 21F extending in the X direction are formed separately in lateral portions of the rear tubular portion 21B on the +Y direction side and the -Y direction side. These cutouts 21F extend to and in the pair of lock pieces 21D.

The housing <NUM> is provided in its inside with two contact accommodating portions <NUM> extending in the X direction in parallel, and further with a leg portion deformation portion <NUM> having a predetermined width in the Y direction at a boundary portion between the front tubular portion 21A and the rear tubular portion 21B.

As shown in <FIG>, the first cover <NUM> made of an insulating material such as resin includes a tubular portion 32A extending in the X direction and a first overhang portion 32B joined to the +Z direction side of the -X directional end of the tubular portion 32A and overhanging in the -X direction. The first overhang portion 32B is provided with the first outer surface 31C.

A cutout 32C opening in the -X direction and extending in the X direction is formed at the -Z directional end of the tubular portion 32A, grooves 32D extending in the X direction are formed separately in outside portions of the tubular portion 32A on the +Y direction side and -Y direction side, and cutouts 32E opening in the +X direction and extending in the X direction are formed separately in the bottoms of the grooves 32D.

An elastic member retaining portion 32F facing the +X direction is formed inside the first cover <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the second cover <NUM> made of an insulating material such as resin includes a flat portion 33A extending along an XY plane and a second overhang portion 33B joined to the -X directional end of the flat portion 33A and overhanging in the -X direction. The second overhang portion 33B is provided with the second outer surface 31D.

As shown in <FIG>, the slider <NUM> made of an insulating material such as resin includes a slider body 41A, a pair of arm portions 41B extending separately in the +Y direction and -Y direction from the slider body 41A, and a pair of grip portions 41C extending in the -X direction from the tips of the pair of arm portions 41B.

A pair of leg portions 41D separately extend in the +X direction from the slider body 41A. The pair of leg portions 41D are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction, are elastically deformable in the Y direction, and are provided with a pair of inclined surfaces 41E facing each other with a distance therebetween getting narrower toward their +X directional ends. The base portions, on the -X direction side, of the pair of leg portions 41D have a distance therebetween that is larger than the width, in the Y direction, of the leg portion deformation portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and the +X directional ends of the pair of inclined surfaces 41E have a distance therebetween that is slightly smaller than the width, in the Y direction, of the leg portion deformation portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

Further, an elastic member retaining portion 41F is formed to protrude in the -X direction from the slider body 41A, and a pair of blocking beams <NUM> extend in the +X direction separately from the +Y directional end and the -Y directional end of the slider body 41A.

As shown in <FIG>, the collar member <NUM> has a ring shape extending to form a substantially circular shape along a YZ plane. The inner periphery of the collar member <NUM> is provided with a pair of step portions 51A facing each other in the Y direction. These step portions 51A are to catch on the grip portions 41C of the slider <NUM> and are configured to allow the slider <NUM> to slide in the -X direction along with the collar member <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> can be assembled in the following manner.

First, the pair of arm portions 41B of the slider <NUM> are inserted into the cutouts 21F of the housing <NUM> and the cutouts 32E of the first cover <NUM>, the elastic member <NUM> is disposed between the elastic member retaining portion 32F of the first cover <NUM> and the elastic member retaining portion 41F of the slider <NUM>, and the ferrite member <NUM> is disposed between the first cover <NUM> and the second cover <NUM>.

Next, the rear tubular portion 21B of the housing <NUM> is covered with the first cover <NUM>, and the first cover <NUM> and the second cover <NUM> are joined to each other to thereby form the cover member <NUM>. Finally, the collar member <NUM> is fitted onto the outer peripheries of the cover member <NUM> and the slider <NUM>. Thus, the assembling operation of the connector <NUM> is completed.

It is assumed that the two electric wires C coupled with the contacts <NUM> have been already passed through the two through-holes of the ferrite member <NUM>. The contacts <NUM> are accommodated in the contact accommodating portions <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The slider <NUM> is retained to be slidable in the X direction with respect to the housing <NUM> and the cover member <NUM> while receiving an elastic force acting in the +X direction from the elastic member <NUM> with the pair of grip portions 41C being accommodated in the grooves 32D of the first cover <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a counter connector <NUM> to which the connector <NUM> thus configured is fitted. The counter connector <NUM> includes, for instance, an inflator <NUM> that constitutes a part of an airbag system, and a retainer <NUM> disposed inside the inflator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the inflator <NUM> includes a connector accommodating portion 92A of recess shape into which a part of the connector <NUM> is to be inserted, and a groove 92B is formed at the inner peripheral surface of the connector accommodating portion 92A. This groove 92B is provided to accommodate the projections 21E of the lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> when the connector <NUM> is fitted to the counter connector <NUM>.

The connector accommodating portion 92A is provided in its interior with two pin-type contacts <NUM> extending in the -X direction and spaced apart from each other in the Y direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the retainer <NUM> made of an insulating material such as resin includes a through-hole 93A penetrating the retainer <NUM> in the X direction and allowing the two pin-type contacts <NUM> to pass therethrough.

Next, the fitting operation of the connector <NUM> to the counter connector <NUM> is described.

First, when the connector <NUM> is moved toward the counter connector <NUM> in the +X direction that is the fitting direction, the tips, i.e., the +X directional ends of the pair of leg portions 41D of the slider <NUM> abut on the retainer <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and the front tubular portion 21A of the housing <NUM> starts to be inserted into the retainer <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. At this time, the contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM> do not make contact with the contacts <NUM> of the counter contacts <NUM> yet.

When the connector <NUM> is further moved in the +X direction, since the tips of the pair of leg portions 41D of the slider <NUM> abut on the retainer <NUM>, the slider <NUM> starts to slide with respect to the housing <NUM> while compressing the elastic member <NUM> with the X directional position of the slider <NUM> with respect to the counter connector <NUM> being unchanged, as shown in <FIG>. At this time, the lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> start to be inserted into the connector accommodating portion 92A of the inflator <NUM>, and the contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM> and the contacts <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM> start contacting each other, as shown in <FIG>.

In this state, when the connector <NUM> is further moved in the +X direction, the leg portion deformation portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> comes into contact with the inclined surfaces 41E of the pair of leg portions 41D of the slider <NUM> and starts to widen the distance between the pair of leg portions 41D in the Y direction, as shown in <FIG>. The distance between the tips of the pair of leg portions 41D in the Y direction gradually increases as the connector <NUM> is moved in the +X direction. Further, at this time, the lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> are inserted into the connector accommodating portion 92A of the inflator <NUM>, and the projections 21E of the lock pieces 21D start to be accommodated in the groove 92B of the connector accommodating portion 92A, as shown in <FIG>.

When the connector <NUM> is further moved in the +X direction, the distance between the tips of the pair of leg portions 41D of the slider <NUM> is widened in the Y direction by the leg portion deformation portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> whereby the abutment of the pair of leg portions 41D against the retainer <NUM> is released, and as shown in <FIG>, the slider <NUM> slides in the +X direction due to a restoring force of the elastic member <NUM>. At this time, the projections 21E of the lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> are accommodated in the groove 92B of the connector accommodating portion 92A, so that the connected state is established between the contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM> and the contacts <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Thus, fitting of the connector <NUM> to the counter connector <NUM> is completed.

Further, at this time, the blocking beams <NUM> of the slider <NUM> are inserted between the retainer <NUM> and the lock pieces 21D, and owing to this, the projections 21E of the lock pieces 21D are prevented from coming off the groove 92B of the connector accommodating portion 92A even when a force to pull the connector <NUM> from the counter connector <NUM> acts. Thus, the fitted state between the connector <NUM> and the counter connector <NUM> is maintained.

If a fitting force to push the connector <NUM> toward the counter connector <NUM> in the +X direction is released before the projections 21E of the lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> are fully accommodated in the groove 92B of the connector accommodating portion 92A, the housing <NUM> moves in the -X direction with respect to the slider <NUM> due to a restoring force of the elastic member <NUM>, so that the connector <NUM> is separated from the counter connector <NUM>. In other words, an automatic incomplete-fitting rejection function of the connector <NUM> with respect to the counter connector <NUM> is exhibited.

The connector <NUM> is to be fitted to the counter connector <NUM> in this manner; as shown in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> of the connector <NUM> has the fitting force applying portion 31B protruding in the -X direction, i.e., rearward, the fitting force applying portion 31B has the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D that are inclined to approach each other toward the -X direction, and the electric wires C extend in the -X direction from between the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D.

Therefore, the operator carrying out the fitting operation of the connector <NUM> can apply a fitting force to the connector <NUM> to push the connector <NUM> toward the counter connector <NUM> by putting the operator's fingers such as, for example, an index finger and a thumb on the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D of the fitting force applying portion 31B of the cover member <NUM> and pushing the connector <NUM> in the +X direction.

The first outer surface 31C of the cover member <NUM> forms a flat inclined surface facing the -X direction and the -Z direction, and the second outer surface 31D forms a flat inclined surface facing the -X direction and the +Z direction; owing to this configuration, when the operator applies a fitting force acting in the +X direction to the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D, components of force acting in the Y direction along the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D are not easily generated, so that the connector <NUM> is less prone to tilt in the Y direction. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent generation of an incomplete fitting state where, of the projections 21E of the pair of lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> that are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction, only either one is accommodated in the groove 92B of the counter connector <NUM>.

Thus, the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> can prevent oblique fitting from easily occurring while having the automatic incomplete-fitting rejection function because the cover member <NUM> has the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D that are spaced apart from each other in the Z direction (second direction) perpendicular to the Y direction (first direction) in which the pair of lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> are spaced apart from each other and that are inclined to approach each other toward the rear end of the cover member <NUM>.

To detach the connector <NUM> being fitted with the counter connector <NUM> from the counter connector <NUM>, it suffices if the collar member <NUM> disposed outside the cover member <NUM> and the slider <NUM> is moved back in the -X direction. When the collar member <NUM> is moved back in the -X direction, the step portions 51A formed on the inner periphery of the collar member <NUM> catch on the grip portions 41C of the slider <NUM>, so that the slider <NUM> slides in the -X direction along with the collar member <NUM>. Consequently, the blocking beams <NUM> of the slider <NUM> inserted between the retainer <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM> and the lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> are pulled out in the -X direction.

In this state, when the collar member <NUM> is further moved back in the -X direction, the housing <NUM> is pulled in the -X direction along with the slider <NUM>, and the projections 21E of the lock pieces 21D come off the groove 92B of the connector accommodating portion 92A. Thus, the fitting of the connector <NUM> with respect to the counter connector <NUM> can be released.

Since the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> has the ring-shaped collar member <NUM> covering the outer peripheries of the cover member <NUM> and the slider <NUM>, the operation of detachment from the counter connector <NUM> can be carried out by moving the collar member <NUM> back in the -X direction.

<FIG> shows a connector 11A according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector 11A is the one in which the collar member <NUM> is omitted in the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the outer peripheries of the cover member <NUM> and the slider <NUM> are bared, and the connector 11A has the same configuration as that of the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> except for the collar member <NUM>.

The connector 11A according to Embodiment <NUM> can be fitted to the counter connector <NUM> by putting the operator's fingers on the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D of the fitting force applying portion 31B of the cover member <NUM> and applying a fitting force acting in the +X direction toward the counter connector <NUM>, as with the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>.

The fitting operation of the connector 11A with respect to the counter connector <NUM> is the same as that of the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

To detach the connector 11A being fitting with the counter connector <NUM> from the counter connector <NUM>, it suffices if the operator puts the operator's fingers on the pair of grip portions 41C of the slider <NUM> and moves the slider <NUM> back in the -X direction. When the slider <NUM> is slid in the -X direction, the blocking beams <NUM> of the slider <NUM> inserted between the retainer <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM> and the lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> are pulled out in the -X direction, and when the slider <NUM> is further pulled in the -X direction, the housing <NUM> moves back in the -X direction, and the projections 21E of the lock pieces 21D come off the groove 92B of the connector accommodating portion 92A. Thus, the fitting of the connector <NUM> with respect to the counter connector <NUM> is released.

Since the connector 11A does not have the collar member <NUM> provided in the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>, it is necessary to apply a force to the pair of grip portions 41C of the slider <NUM> such that the slider <NUM> is moved back in the -X direction when the connector 11A in the fitting state is detached from the counter connector <NUM>, and this may relatively deteriorate the operability for detachment. However, not having the collar member <NUM> results in a smaller size of the connector 11A than that of the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>, and this is helpful when an installation space is tight.

Although the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> has a larger size than that of the connector 11A because of the collar member <NUM>, the connector <NUM> has excellent operability for detachment compared to the connector 11A according to Embodiment <NUM> since the operator can grasp the ring-shaped collar member <NUM> larger than the slider <NUM> to move the collar member <NUM> back in the -X direction in detaching the connector <NUM>.

Thus, it is desirable to select one of the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> and the connector 11A according to Embodiment <NUM> depending on an installation space and other factors.

In Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above, it is not always necessary to arrange the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D spaced apart from each other in the Z direction in a symmetrical manner with respect to an XY plane. However, arrangement of the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D in a symmetrical manner with respect to an XY plane is preferred because the connector <NUM>, 11A is less prone to tilt in the Z direction when the operator puts the operator's fingers on the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D and pushes the connector <NUM>, 11A in the fitting direction.

It should be noted that while the two electric wires C extend from the rear end of the cover member <NUM> in the -X direction in parallel to the fitting direction in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, there may be provided a so-called angle-type connector in which an electric wire C extends from the rear end of the cover member <NUM> in the Z direction or the Y direction perpendicular to the fitting direction as long as the cover member <NUM> has the first outer surface 31C and the second outer surface 31D that are spaced apart in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the pair of lock pieces 21D of the housing <NUM> are spaced apart and that are inclined to approach each other toward the rear end of the cover member <NUM>.

The number of the electric wires C is not limited to two, and one or three or more electric wires C may be connected to the connector <NUM>, 11A.

Claim 1:
A connector (<NUM>, 11A) to be fitted to a counter connector (<NUM>) by being moved frontward along a fitting direction, the connector comprising:
a contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled with an end of an electric wire (C);
a housing (<NUM>) retaining the contact;
a cover member (<NUM>) retaining the housing;
a slider (<NUM>) retained in the housing to be slidable along the fitting direction; and
an elastic member (<NUM>) disposed between the cover member and the slider and applying to the slider an elastic force acting along the fitting direction,
wherein the housing includes a pair of lock pieces (21D) that are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a first direction perpendicular to the fitting direction and that lock a fitting state between the connector and the counter connector by being fitted in the counter connector, the connector being characterised in that
the cover member (<NUM>) has a pair of flat outer surfaces (31C, 31D) that are spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to both the fitting direction and the first direction and that are inclined to approach each other toward a rear end of the cover member, wherein the first outer surface (31C) and the second outer surface (31D) spaced apart from each other in the second direction are larger than outer surfaces aligning in the first direction and are substantially identical to each other in size.