JP2016018636A - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lever type connector capable of suppressing a pair of connector housings from being fitted in a tilted state from a normal fitting attitude, without complicating a configuration.SOLUTION: A lever type connector 1 comprises: a male housing 60 that comprises a cam follower 65; a female housing 10 fitted to the male housing 60; and a lever 50 that comprises a cam plate 51 having a cam groove 53. The lever 50 comprises a rotation operation part 56 and an initial position lock arm 54. The female housing 10 comprises an engagement arm 41 engaged with the initial position lock arm 54. The male housing 60 comprises a cancellation projection 66 that protrudes toward the lever 50, and that bends the initial position lock arm 54 at the fitting start with the female housing 10 to cancel the engagement with the engagement arm 41. The lever 50 comprises an inclination correction piece 59 that abuts on the cancellation projection 66 from a fitting direction rear side to the female housing 10, of the male housing 60 when rotated to a fitting position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

  The technique disclosed by this specification is related with a lever-type connector.

  The lever-type connector includes a pair of connector housings that can be fitted to each other, and a lever that is provided in one of the pair of connector housings and includes a cam plate. The cam plate has a cam groove that engages with the cam follower of the other connector housing. When fitting both connector housings together, the cam action between the cam groove and the cam follower that accompanies the rotation of the lever from the initial position to the mating position makes it easy to fit both connector housings with little force. It can be carried out. As such a connector, a connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-249304 is known.

  The connector of the above document has a mechanism for restricting unintentional rotation to the fitting position when the lever is in the initial position. This mechanism includes an elastic locking piece provided on the lever and a lock receiving portion provided on one connector housing. When the lever is in the initial position, the elastic locking piece is locked to the lock receiving portion, thereby restricting unintentional rotation of the lever. When both connector housings are shallowly fitted, the lock release rib provided on the other connector housing deflects the elastic locking piece, thereby releasing the engagement of the elastic locking piece to the lock receiving portion, The lever is allowed to rotate to the fitting position.

JP 2003-249304 A

  By the way, in the lever type connector having the above-described configuration, one of the connectors at one end close to the operation unit is disposed at both ends in the width direction of both connector housings by the pushing force to the operation unit for rotating the lever. A force in a direction of pushing the housing toward the other connector housing acts strongly. Thereby, both connector housings may incline from a regular fitting posture.

  The technology disclosed in the present specification includes a first housing including a cam follower, a second housing fitted to the first housing, and a member disposed in the second housing, the cam receiving the cam follower. A cam plate having a groove, and by the cam action of the cam groove and the cam follower as the cam plate is rotated from an initial position allowing entry of the cam follower into the cam groove to a fitting position. A lever-type connector comprising a lever that pulls the first housing and the second housing together to reach a normal fitting state, wherein the lever rotates the cam plate from the initial position to the fitting position. A rotation operation unit for operation, and a rotation operation unit disposed on the opposite side of the rotation operation unit across the rotation center of the cam plate, An elastic bending portion that bends and deforms in the direction of approaching or separating, and the second housing includes an engaging portion that engages with the elastic bending portion when the lever is in an initial position. A release portion that protrudes toward the lever and bends the elastic bending portion to release the engagement with the engagement portion at the start of fitting with the second housing, and the lever includes the cam plate Is provided with an inclination correction portion that comes into contact with the release portion from the rear in the fitting direction of the first housing with respect to the second housing when rotated from the initial position to the fitting position.

  According to the above configuration, the elastic bending portion is disposed on the opposite side of the lever with respect to the turning operation portion with respect to the turning center of the cam plate, that is, on the opposite side to the side on which the pushing force acts strongly, The engaging portion that engages with the elastic bending portion and the releasing portion that releases the engagement between the elastic bending portion and the engaging portion are also opposite to the rotation operation portion with the rotation center of the cam plate interposed therebetween. Will be placed. Then, when the cam plate is rotated from the initial position to the fitting position (that is, in the process of fitting the first housing and the second housing), the inclination correction unit is moved toward the release unit. By abutting from the rear in the fitting direction with respect to the second housing, the second housing with respect to the first housing on the side opposite to the position where the rotation operation portion is arranged, that is, the side opposite to the side on which the pushing force acts strongly. The force which pushes up toward the front in the fitting direction works to correct the inclination of both housings. This prevents the fitting operation from being completed while both connector housings are tilted.

  Furthermore, as a mechanism for correcting the inclination of both housings, a release portion that releases the engagement between the elastic bending portion and the engagement portion is used, so that the configuration of the lever-type connector is avoided from becoming complicated. Can do.

  As an aspect of the technology disclosed by this specification, the following configurations are preferable.

  When the first housing and the second housing are in a non-fitted state, the engaging portion is in a position where it interferes with the elastic deflecting portion, and the fitting between the first housing and the second housing is started. In this state, it may be a bending interference part that is displaced to a position that does not interfere with the elastic bending part by being bent by the release part.

  Here, the release portion releases the engagement between the elastic deflecting portion and the engagement portion at the start of the fitting between the first housing and the second housing, and then moves toward the back of the second housing as the fitting proceeds. And will enter. Therefore, as shown in the above document, when the engaging portion is a lock receiving portion that does not bend and deform, by projecting the lock receiving portion so as to contact only the lower half of the elastic locking piece, The space above the lock receiving part is secured as a space for the unlocking rib (release part) after the elastic locking piece is bent and deformed to avoid interference between the unlocking rib and the receiving part for locking. ing. For this reason, the protrusion height of the unlocking rib is limited to a height that does not interfere with the lock receiving portion, that is, a height that contacts the upper half of the elastic locking piece.

  On the other hand, in the configuration in which the engaging portion is bent by the releasing portion, the bending interference portion is displaced to a position that does not interfere with the elastic bending portion. Since a large space can be secured, it is possible to secure a large projecting height of the release portion, and as a result, it is possible to secure a large contact area between the release portion and the inclination correction portion in contact therewith. Thereby, even if it is a multipolar connector, ie, a connector which requires a comparatively big force in order to fit both housings, the inclination of both housings can be corrected reliably.

  According to the technology disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to provide a lever-type connector that can prevent the pair of connector housings from being inclined and fitted from a normal fitting posture without complicating the configuration.

Plan view of lever-type connector of embodiment AA line sectional view of FIG. Top view of female housing of embodiment BB sectional view of FIG. CC sectional view of FIG. Plan view of lever of embodiment Side view of the lever of the embodiment DD sectional view of FIG. Enlarged view inside circle R in FIG. EE sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the fitting start of a male housing and a female housing in embodiment. FF sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state in the middle of fitting with a male housing and a female housing in embodiment GG sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the male housing and the female housing fit normally in embodiment HH sectional view of FIG.

  An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the lever-type connector 1 according to the present embodiment includes a male housing 60 (corresponding to the first housing) provided with a cam follower 65 and a female housing 10 (corresponding to the second housing) that can be fitted to the male housing 60. And a lever 50 that is assembled to the female housing 10. The lever 50 includes a cam plate 51 having a cam groove 53, and the cam groove 53 and the cam groove 53 are rotated along with the rotation of the cam plate 51 from the initial position allowing the cam follower 65 to enter the cam groove 53 to the fitting position. This is a member that pulls the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 together by a cam action with the cam follower 65 to reach a normal fitting state.

(Male housing 60)
The male housing 60 is made of a synthetic resin and includes a terminal holding wall 61 and a hood portion 62 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The terminal holding wall 61 is a rectangular plate-like portion as a whole. The hood portion 62 is a rectangular tube-like portion that projects perpendicularly to the terminal holding wall 61 from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal holding wall 61, opens to the opposite side of the terminal holding wall 61, and receives the female housing 10 therein. It is possible.

  The hood portion 62 has four wall portions that continue from the four sides of the terminal holding wall 61, and a cam follower 65 and a release protrusion 66 are provided on the inner side surface of one of the wall portions (cam follower arrangement wall 63). (Corresponding to the release portion) is arranged. The cam follower 65 is a cylindrical pin that protrudes inward from the cam follower arrangement wall 63, and is arranged at a substantially central position of the wall surface of the cam follower arrangement wall 63 as shown in FIG. 1. The release protrusion 66 is a prismatic protrusion protruding inward from the cam follower arrangement wall 63. As shown in FIG. 2, the release protrusion 66 is disposed on the edge of the cam follower arrangement wall 63 opposite to the terminal holding wall 61 (the edge on the opening side of the hood portion 62: the right edge in FIG. 2). In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the cam follower arrangement wall 63 is disposed at a position closer to one side wall (the left side wall 64 in FIG. 8) than the center between the two side walls 64 perpendicular to the cam follower arrangement wall 63.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the male terminal fitting 67 attached to the male housing 60 is made of metal bent in an L shape, and has one end portion penetrating the terminal holding wall 61 and inside the hood portion 62. Protruding.

(Female housing 10)
The female housing 10 is made of synthetic resin and has a rectangular parallelepiped block shape as a whole. As shown in FIG. 4, a terminal housing portion 20 for housing a female terminal fitting (not shown), a lever 50 and a lever accommodating portion 30 for accommodating 50. One of the plurality of outer surfaces of the female housing 10 is a fitting surface 11 that faces the male housing 60 when mated with the male housing 60, as shown in FIGS. The other surface parallel to the insertion surface 12 is where the female terminal fitting and the lever 50 are inserted into the terminal housing portion 20 and the lever housing portion 30.

  The terminal accommodating part 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped block-like part as a whole, and has a plurality of terminal fitting accommodating chambers (not shown). Each of the plurality of terminal fitting accommodation chambers is a space that opens to the fitting surface 11 and the insertion surface 12 and accommodates the terminal fitting therein.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lever accommodating portion 30 is arranged on one surface (lever arrangement surface 31) perpendicular to the fitting surface 11 and the insertion surface 12 in the terminal accommodating portion 20, and the three rising wall portions 32 shown in FIG. 5. , 33, and 34, and an opposing wall portion 35 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the three rising wall portions 32, 33, and 34 are arranged on the lever arrangement surface 31 on the side opposite to the terminal accommodating portion 20 from the three sides excluding one side along the insertion surface 12 in the lever arrangement surface 31. It is a wall that rises perpendicular to the wall. Of the three rising wall portions 32, 33, and 34, the wall portion rising from the side along the fitting surface 11 of the lever arrangement surface 31 is the first rising wall portion 32 and rises from the other two sides of the lever arrangement surface 31. One of the two wall portions (the left side in FIG. 5) is the second rising wall portion 33, and the other (the right side in FIG. 5) is the third rising wall portion 34. The second rising wall portion 33 and the third rising wall portion 34 are disposed perpendicular to the first rising wall portion 32.

  The opposing wall portion 35 is a wall portion that extends from the rising tip portions of the rising wall portions 32, 33, and 34, and is spaced from the lever arrangement surface 31 with respect to the lever arrangement surface 31 as shown in FIG. They are arranged in parallel (perpendicular to the fitting surface 11 and the insertion surface 12). When the female housing 10 is fitted to the male housing 60, the facing wall portion 35 is disposed along the cam follower arrangement wall 63 of the male housing 60 as shown in FIG. A space surrounded by the three rising wall portions 32, 33, 34, the opposing wall portion 35, and the lever arrangement surface 31 is opened to the insertion surface 12 side, and becomes a lever accommodation chamber 36 for accommodating the lever 50 therein. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first rising wall portion 32 and the opposing wall portion 35 are provided with a cam follower insertion portion 38 that receives a cam follower 65 provided in the male housing 60 and a release protrusion 66 provided in the male housing 60. A release protrusion insertion portion 39 for receiving is disposed.

  The cam follower insertion portion 38 has a shape in which a hole penetrating from the outer surface to the inner side surface of the first rising wall portion 32 and a hole penetrating from the outer surface to the inner side surface of the opposing wall portion 35 are connected. As shown in FIG. 3, the portion of the cam follower insertion portion 38 that is disposed on the opposing wall portion 35 is notched perpendicularly to the first rising wall portion 32 from the first rising wall portion 32 toward the insertion surface 12. It is.

  The release protrusion insertion portion 39 has a shape in which a hole penetrating from the outer surface to the inner side surface of the first rising wall portion 32 and a hole penetrating from the outer surface to the inner side surface of the opposing wall portion 35 are connected. As shown in FIG. 3, the portion of the release protrusion insertion portion 39 disposed on the opposing wall portion 35 is cut perpendicularly to the first rising wall portion 32 from the first rising wall portion 32 toward the insertion surface 12. It is missing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cam follower insertion portion 38 is disposed at a substantially central position between the second rising wall portion 33 and the third rising wall portion 34, and the release protrusion insertion portion 39 is formed from the cam follower insertion portion 38. Also, the cam follower insertion portion 38 is disposed at a position close to the second rising wall portion 33 with a gap.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a part of the opposing wall portion 35 close to the insertion surface 12 is a region where the cam follower insertion portion 38 and the release protrusion insertion portion 39 are not disposed. A thick portion 43 that is partially thick is provided so as to protrude outward (opposite side of the terminal accommodating portion 20; upper side in FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the thick portion 43 has a first operation portion receiving recess 44. The first operation portion receiving recess 44 is inside the thick portion 43 with reference to the insertion surface 12 of the female housing 10 and the outer surface of the third rising wall portion 34 (the fitting surface 11 side and the second rising wall portion 33 side: 3 is a recess recessed in the upper side and the left side of FIG. 3, which is continuous from the third rising wall 34, parallel to the insertion surface 12, and closer to the first rising wall 32 than the insertion surface 12 (upper in FIG. 3). The first rotation restricting wall 44A and the end portion of the first rotation restricting wall 44A near the second rising wall portion 33 are inclined toward the insertion surface 12 as the second rising wall portion 33 is approached. It is a recessed part defined with the 1st taper wall 44B.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a fitting position lock portion 42 that locks the lever 50 at the fitting position is provided on the inner side surface (the surface facing the lever arrangement surface 31) of the facing wall portion 35. It is provided in the form which protrudes toward.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical shaft portion 37 for pivotally supporting the lever 50 is provided on the lever arrangement surface 31 so as to protrude toward the opposing wall portion 35.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a bending groove 40 and a second operation portion receiving recess 45 are arranged on the lever arrangement surface 31, and the lever 50 is locked in the initial position inside the bending groove 40. An engagement arm 41 (corresponding to an engagement portion or a flexure interference portion) is disposed.

  The bending groove 40 is a groove that is recessed inwardly (on the side of the terminal accommodating portion 20; the lower side of FIG. 4) with respect to the lever arrangement surface 31, and as shown in FIG. 32 extends from the portion disposed at 32 and extends perpendicularly to the first rising wall portion 32 toward the insertion surface 12. The groove bottom surface 40B of the bending groove 40 is parallel to the lever arrangement surface 31 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the engagement arm 41 is first extended from the extended end 40 </ b> A of the flexure groove 40 (the end opposite to the first rising wall portion 32; the lower end in FIG. 5). A cantilever spring piece that extends in parallel with the second rising wall portion 33 and the third rising wall portion 34 toward the rising wall portion 32. As shown in FIG. 4, the engaging arm 41 is disposed with a space from the groove bottom surface 40B of the flexure groove 40, and a portion (base end portion 41A) connected to the extending end 40A is used as a fulcrum. The bending groove 40 can be bent in the direction approaching or separating from the groove bottom surface 40B.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the free end 41B (end opposite to the base end 41A) of the engagement arm 41 protrudes from the lever arrangement surface 31 toward the opposing wall 35, and this free end As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, 41B has a riding surface 41 </ b> C and a locking surface 41 </ b> D. The riding surface 41C is formed in a portion close to the second rising wall portion 33 (the left portion in FIG. 9) in the free end portion 41B, and as shown in FIG. 4, the groove bottom surface 40B becomes closer to the first rising wall portion 32. It is an inclined surface that goes down. The locking surface 41D is formed by cutting out a portion closer to the third rising wall portion 34 (a portion on the right side in FIG. 9) than the portion where the riding surface 41C is arranged in the free end portion 41B. 40B and the surface perpendicular to the lever arrangement surface 31.

  The second operation portion receiving recess 45 is a recess that is recessed toward the terminal accommodating portion 20 (downward in FIG. 4) with respect to the lever arrangement surface 31, is continuous from the insertion surface 12, and is parallel to the lever arrangement surface 31. The bottom surface 45C arranged closer to the terminal accommodating portion 20 than the lever arrangement surface 31 is connected to the bottom surface 45C, parallel to the insertion surface 12 and closer to the fitting surface 11 than the insertion surface 12 (see FIG. 5). From the end of the second rotation restricting wall 45 </ b> A disposed above and the end of the second turn restricting wall 45 </ b> A near the second rising wall 33 toward the insertion surface 12 as it approaches the second rising wall 33. It is a recessed part defined with the 2nd taper wall 45B which inclines.

(Lever 50)
The lever 50 is made of synthetic resin and includes a cam plate 51 having a cam groove 53.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cam plate 51 is a rectangular plate-like portion with rounded corners as a whole. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the cam plate 51 is engaged in the lever housing chamber 36. Between the arm 41 and the third rising wall portion 34, it is arranged in parallel with the lever arrangement surface 31 and the opposing wall portion 35. The cam plate 51 has a bearing hole portion 52 that receives the shaft portion 37 of the female housing 10 inside, and a cam groove 53 that receives the cam follower 65 inside.

  The bearing hole 52 is a circular hole that is recessed inward with reference to a plate surface facing the lever arrangement surface 31 of the cam plate 51, and is arranged at a substantially central position of the cam plate 51 as shown in FIG. 6. ing. The cam plate 51 is pivotable between an initial position (position shown in FIG. 8) and a fitting position (position shown in FIG. 15) by the shaft portion 37 being fitted into the bearing hole portion 52. Be supported. As shown in FIG. 15, when the lever 50 is in the mating position, the three sides are arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the three rising wall portions 32, 33, and 34. As shown in FIG. 8, the three sides are inclined with respect to the three rising wall portions 32, 33, and 34. When the lever 50 is in the fitting position, the lever 50 that is disposed in proximity to the corner (the lower right corner in FIG. 15) between the insertion surface 12 and the third rising wall 34 in the housing 10. One corner (the lower right corner in FIG. 15) protrudes outside the insertion surface 12 of the housing 10 when the lever 50 is in the initial position (see FIG. 8).

  The cam groove 53 is a groove extending inward from the peripheral edge of the cam plate 51. The cam groove 53 is an end edge 51A (closed on the left side in FIG. 6; see also FIG. 15) arranged close to the engaging arm 41 when the cam groove 51 is arranged at the fitting position. It arrange | positions adjacent to the corner | angular part 51C with the edge 51B (the upper edge of FIG. 6: refer also FIG. 15) arrange | positioned along the 1st standing wall part 32. FIG. The cam groove 53 has an approximately arc shape in which the entrance portion 53A is open to the end edge 51A side and gradually approaches the bearing hole portion 52 that is the rotation center of the cam plate 51 toward the back end portion 53B. Yes.

  The cam plate 51 is provided with an initial position lock arm 54 (corresponding to an elastic bending portion), a fitting position lock arm 55, and an inclination correction piece 59 (corresponding to an inclination correction portion). The initial position lock arm 54 is a portion for holding the cam plate 51 at the initial position. The engagement position lock arm 55 is a portion for engaging the engagement position lock portion 42 to hold the cam plate 51 in the engagement position. The inclination correction piece 59 is a part for abutting the release protrusion 66 when the cam plate 51 is rotated to the fitting position and correcting the inclination between the male housing 60 and the female housing 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the initial position lock arm 54 is a cantilever arm in which one end portion (base end portion 54A) is connected to the cam plate 51 and the other end portion is a free end portion 54B. is there. The lock arm 54 for the initial position is arranged along the edge 51 </ b> A, and the base end 54 </ b> A is connected near the entrance 53 </ b> A of the cam groove 53, toward the insertion surface 12, that is, the initial position of the cam plate 51. It extends toward the front in the rotation direction from the position to the fitting position (the direction indicated by the arrow A1 in FIG. 8). The initial position lock arm 54 is disposed at a distance from the cam plate 51, and in the direction approaching or separating from the end edge of the cam plate 51 with the base end portion 54 </ b> A as a fulcrum, that is, the cam plate 51. It is possible to bend elastically in the thickness direction and the crossing direction (left-right direction in FIG. 6). In the state where the cam plate 51 is disposed at the fitting position, the initial position lock arm 54 is arranged side by side so as to be parallel to the engagement arm 41 as shown in FIG.

  The engagement position lock arm 55 is disposed along the insertion surface 12 in the state of being disposed at the engagement position on the cam plate 51 (lower edge in FIG. 6; see also FIG. 15). The two slits S extending inward from the inner side are arranged in parallel to each other with a space therebetween, so that a portion between the pair of slits S is elastic in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the cam plate 51. Can be bent. The engagement position lock arm 55 is almost entirely exposed to the outside of the lever accommodating portion 30 when the cam plate 51 is disposed at the initial position (see FIG. 1), and the cam plate 51 is at the engagement position. In the arranged state, it extends straight along the fitting direction with the male housing 60 (the direction from the fitting surface 11 toward the insertion surface 12). The engagement position lock arm 55 is a release operation portion 55B whose free end portion can perform a lock release operation, and faces the opposing wall portion 35 when the cam plate 51 is in the engagement position. The surface has a locking projection 55 </ b> A for locking to the fitting position locking portion 42.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inclination correction piece 59 is connected to the base end portion 54 </ b> A of the initial position lock arm 54 (the rear end portion in the rotational direction of the cam plate 51 in the initial position lock arm 54). 54A is a plate piece arranged on the opposite side of the cam plate 51 with respect to 54A. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 16, the surface 59 </ b> A facing the lever arrangement surface 31 in the inclination correction piece 59 is an inclined surface that decreases toward the lever arrangement surface 31 as it approaches the free end portion 54 </ b> B of the initial position lock arm 54. It is said that.

  The lever 50 has a rotation operation unit 56. The rotation operation unit 56 is a part for the operator to perform a rotation operation with his / her finger when rotating the cam plate 51 between the initial position and the fitting position. The rotation operation unit 56 is arranged at the end edge (the lower end edge in FIG. 6; see also FIG. 15) arranged along the insertion surface 12 in the state of being arranged at the fitting position on the cam plate 51. The fitting position lock arm 55 is disposed at a position close to the third rising wall portion 34 (right end position in FIG. 6; see also FIG. 15). In other words, the rotation operation unit 56 has a cam groove 53 disposed on the cam plate 51 with the bearing hole 52 serving as the rotation center interposed therebetween, and the initial position lock arm 54 and the inclination correction piece 59 are connected. It is arrange | positioned on the opposite side to the area | region which is.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the rotation operation unit 56 has a pair of column portions 57A and 57B and a pair of bridging portions 58A and 58B. One pair of column portions 57A and 57B is disposed on each side of the cam plate 51 with the fitting position lock arm 55 interposed therebetween. Each column part 57A, 57B is perpendicular to the plate surface direction from both the front and back surfaces of the cam plate 51 (that is, the side facing the lever arrangement surface 31 with the lever 50 mounted on the female housing 10), It is a columnar part that protrudes toward the facing wall 35. One bridging portion 58A of the pair of bridging portions 58A and 58B bridges the edges of the two pillar portions 57A and 57B on the lever arrangement surface 31 side, and the other bridging portion 58B has two pillar portions 57A. 57B, the edges on the opposite wall 35 side are bridged. The pair of column portions 57A, 57B and the pair of bridging portions 58A, 58B form an annular shape so as to surround the fitting position lock arm 55. Each of the pair of bridging portions 58A, 58B is disposed with a space from the fitting position lock arm 55, and between the fitting position lock arm 55 and each of the pair of bridging portions 58A, 58B. In addition, a space that allows the fitting position lock arm 55 to bend is secured.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the thickness of the initial position lock arm 54 (distance between both surfaces parallel to the front and back surfaces of the cam plate 51) is equal to the thickness of the cam plate 51 (distance between both surfaces). Further, the thickness of the tilt regulating piece 59 (the end portion close to the free end portion 54B of the initial position lock arm 54; the right end portion in FIG. 7) is equal to the thickness of the cam plate 51. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the release protrusion 66 of the male housing 60 is fitted to the female housing 10, the end surface 66 </ b> A (lower end surface of FIG. 2) of the protruding end side is the cam plate 51. In FIG. 2, the surface is flush with the plate surface facing the lever arrangement surface 31.

(Function)
The lever-type connector 1 of the present embodiment has the above structure, and the operation thereof will be described next.

  When the work of fitting the female housing 10 and the male housing 60 is performed, prior to the fitting work, the locking position of the fitting position lock arm 55 with respect to the fitting position lock portion 42 is released, and the lever 50 is rotated from the fitting position to the initial position (see FIG. 8).

  In the state where the lever 50 is disposed at the initial position, the lock arm 54 for the initial position has the proximal end portion 54A close to the fitting surface 11 and the free end portion 54B close to the insertion surface 12, as shown in FIG. Are arranged obliquely so as to approach the engagement arm 41 from the base end portion 54A toward the free end portion 54B, and the free end portion 54B is locked to the locking surface 41D. Further, one of the two column portions 57A and 57B of the rotation operation unit 56 (the side closer to the second rising wall portion 33) has the column portion 57A on the first rotation restriction wall 44A and the second rotation restriction wall 45A. Abut. As a result, the lever 50 is held in a state in which the lever 50 cannot be rotated in either the forward or reverse direction with respect to the rotation direction (the rotation direction to the fitting position and the opposite direction). The cam groove 53 has an entrance 53A disposed in the cam follower insertion portion 38 of the lever accommodating portion 30 and is open toward the fitting surface 11 so that the cam follower 65 is allowed to enter the inside. It has become.

  From this state, the female housing 10 is inserted into the hood portion 62. When the female housing 10 is inserted into the hood portion 62 to a predetermined depth, the cam follower 65 enters the cam follower insertion portion 38 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the release protrusion 66 enters the release protrusion insertion portion 39 and comes into contact with the riding surface 41 </ b> C of the engagement arm 41. When the female housing 10 is pushed slightly toward the male housing 60 from this state (start of fitting), the initial position lock arm 54 is pushed by the release protrusion 66 and approaches the cam plate 51 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, when the release protrusion 66 rides on the ride surface 41C, the engagement arm 41 comes close to the groove bottom surface 40B so as not to interfere with the initial position lock arm 54. It will be bent to the position. As a result, the locked state between the initial position lock arm 54 and the engagement arm 41 is released, and the cam plate 51 is allowed to rotate from the initial position to the fitting position. At the time of releasing the lock, the cam follower 65 enters the entrance portion 53 </ b> A in the cam groove 53 as shown in FIG. 11.

  When the rotation operation unit 56 is operated to rotate the cam plate 51 from the initial position toward the fitting position, the cam follower 65 moves from the entrance 53A along the periphery of the cam groove 53 as shown in FIG. By moving to the end 53B side, the female housing 10 is relatively drawn to the male housing 60 side, and the fitting proceeds. Further, the release protrusion 66 passes through the engaging arm 41 while being bent.

  At this time, as the turning operation unit 56 approaches the fitting position, the pushing force (force acting in the direction indicated by the arrow A2 in FIG. 13) on the turning operation unit 56 is closer to the third rising wall 34 (see FIG. 13 on the right side) and the female housing 10 enters the male housing 60 deeply on the side close to the third rising wall portion 34. On the other hand, on the opposite side (side closer to the second rising wall portion 33; left side in FIG. 13), the cam action of the cam groove 53 and the cam follower 65 pulls the female housing 10 away from the male housing 60. Since force (force acting in the direction indicated by arrow A3 in FIG. 13) acts, the female housing 10 is prevented from entering the male housing 60. For this reason, the female housing 10 may be inclined with respect to the male housing 60 in some cases.

  When the cam plate 51 is rotated to the vicinity of the fitting position, the fitting position lock portion 42 provided on the female housing 10 rides on the locking projection 55A, so that the fitting position lock arm 55 is bent and deformed. .

  When the cam plate 51 reaches the mating position and the female housing 10 reaches the proper mating depth with respect to the male housing 60, the mating position lock arm 55 is elastically restored, and the locking projection 55A is mated. It is latched with respect to the lock part 42 for use. Further, the two bridging portions 58A and 58B of the rotation operation unit 56 are brought into contact with the first rotation restriction wall 44A and the second rotation restriction wall 45A, respectively (see FIG. 15). As a result, the lever 50 is held in a state in which it cannot rotate in either the forward or reverse direction with respect to the rotation direction from the fitting position.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the inclination correction piece 59 rides on the engaging arm 41 while bending it, so that the release protrusion 66 from the terminal holding wall 61 side, that is, the female housing 10 of the male housing 60. It abuts from the rear in the fitting direction (upper side in FIG. 15). Thereby, when the female housing 10 is in an oblique posture with respect to the male housing 60, the release protrusion 66 is pushed forward in the fitting direction of the male housing 60 with respect to the female housing 10 (downward in FIG. 15) by the inclination correction piece 59. As a result, the approach of the female housing 10 to the male housing 60 at a portion relatively close to the second rising wall portion 33 (the left portion in FIG. 15) proceeds and the inclination is corrected.

  In addition, since the surface 59A facing the lever arrangement surface 31 is an inclined surface in the inclination correction piece 59, the engagement arm 41 is elastically returned after the inclination correction piece 59 has passed the riding surface 41C. Space is secured (see FIG. 16).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the lever 50 is opposite to the rotation operation unit 56 with respect to the rotation center of the cam plate 51, that is, the opposite side to the side where the pushing force acts strongly (pulling). The initial position lock arm 54 is disposed on the side on which the force acts, and the engagement arm 41 that engages with the initial position lock arm 54 and the engagement between the initial position lock arm 54 and the engagement arm 41. The release protrusion 66 for releasing the engagement is also disposed on the opposite side of the rotation operation unit 56 with the rotation center of the cam plate 51 interposed therebetween. When the cam plate 51 is rotated from the initial position to the fitting position (that is, in the process of fitting the female housing 10 and the male housing 60), the inclination correction piece 59 is male relative to the release protrusion 66. By abutting the housing 60 from the rear in the fitting direction with respect to the female housing 10, the side opposite to the side on which the rotation operation unit 56 is disposed, that is, the entry of the female housing 10 into the male housing 60 is not sufficiently advanced. On the side, a force that pushes the male housing 60 forward in the fitting direction to the female housing 10 acts, and the inclination of the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 is corrected. This prevents the fitting operation from being completed while the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 are tilted.

  Furthermore, since the release protrusion 66 is used as a mechanism for correcting the inclination between the male housing 60 and the female housing 10, it is possible to avoid the configuration of the lever-type connector 1 from becoming complicated.

  Further, the engaging portion that engages with the initial position lock arm 54 is an engagement arm 41 that is displaced to a position that does not interfere with the initial position lock arm 54 by being bent by the release protrusion 66. According to such a configuration, since the passage space of the release protrusion 66 can be ensured as much as the engagement arm 41 is bent, the protrusion height of the release protrusion 66 can be ensured large, and thus this release. A large contact area between the protrusion 66 and the inclination correction piece 59 in contact with the protrusion 66 can be secured. Thereby, even if it is a multipolar connector, that is, a connector that requires a relatively large force to fit the male housing 60 and the female housing 10, the inclination of the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 is ensured. Can be corrected.

<Other embodiments>
The technology disclosed in the present specification is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the technology disclosed in the present specification.
(1) In the above embodiment, the surface 59A facing the lever arrangement surface 31 of the tilt correction piece 59 is an inclined surface, but the facing surface is not an inclined surface, and the tilt correction piece 59 is a riding surface. After passing through 41 </ b> C, the engagement arm 41 may be pushed by the inclination correction piece 59 and remain bent.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the engaging portion 41 that engages with the initial position lock arm 54 is deflected by the release protrusion 66 to be displaced to a position that does not interfere with the initial position lock arm 54. However, the engaging protrusion may be a locking protrusion that does not bend and deform.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lever type connector 10 ... Female housing (2nd housing)
41... Engagement arm (engagement part, deflection interference part)
50 ... Lever 51 ... Cam plate 53 ... Cam groove 54 ... Lock arm for initial position (elastically bent portion)
56... Rotation operation unit 59... Tilt correction piece (tilt correction unit)
60 ... Male housing (first housing)
65 ... Cam follower 66 ... Release protrusion (release part)

Claims (2)

A first housing comprising a cam follower;
A second housing mated with the first housing;
A member disposed in the second housing, the cam plate having a cam groove for receiving the cam follower, wherein the cam plate is rotated from an initial position allowing the cam follower to enter the cam groove to a fitting position; A lever-type connector comprising a lever that pulls the first housing and the second housing together by a cam action of the cam groove and the cam follower as they are moved;
The lever is configured to rotate the cam plate from the initial position to the fitting position, and to the opposite side of the rotation operation portion with the rotation center of the cam plate interposed therebetween. An elastic bending portion that is arranged and bends and deforms in a direction approaching or separating from the cam plate,
The second housing includes an engaging portion that engages with the elastic bending portion when the lever is in an initial position,
The first housing includes a release portion that protrudes toward the lever and releases the engagement with the engagement portion by bending the elastic deflection portion at the start of fitting with the second housing;
The lever includes an inclination correction portion that comes into contact with the release portion from the rear in the fitting direction with respect to the second housing when the cam plate is rotated from the initial position to the fitting position. A lever-type connector.   When the first housing and the second housing are in a non-fitted state, the engaging portion is in a position where it interferes with the elastic deflecting portion, and the fitting between the first housing and the second housing is started. 2. The lever-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the lever-type connector is a deflection interference portion that is displaced to a position that does not interfere with the elastic deflection portion by being bent by the release portion.

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