CONNECTOR

Abstract

A connector includes a first housing and a second housing. The second housing is attached with the first housing. An accommodating part is provided in the first housing. A first lock portion is provided in the accommodating part and is capable of being displaced. A detection member is accommodated in the accommodating part and is displaced according to a displacement of the first lock portion. A second lock portion is provided in the second housing and pushes the first lock portion to displace the first lock portion. And the second lock portion is engaged with the first lock portion when the second housing is attached with the first housing. A first restricting portion is provided in the first lock portion. A second restricting portion is provided in the detection member and is engaged with the first restricting portion when the first lock portion is displaced by the second lock portion. A release portion is provided in the second housing and releases the first restricting portion from the second restricting portion when the first lock portion is engaged with the second lock portion.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a connector which enables the detection of its fitting condition.

Conventionally, as a connector which enables the detection of a fitting condition of a pair of housings thereof, there has been known a connector which includes a pair of connector housings and a fitting detection member that is built in one of the connector housings (see, Patent Document 1).

In this connector, a lock arm is provided on one of the connector housing which is elastically deformed towards a deflection space by the other connector housing. An elastic arm is provided on the detection member, and this elastic arm is elastically deformed in association with a deflecting action of the lock arm. In addition, a restriction receiving portion is provided on the elastic arm, and this restriction receiving portion is locked on a locking portion on the one connector housing when the elastic arm is deformed so as to be restricted from being pushed into the deflection space. Then, when the pair of connector housings are properly fitted in or on each other, the elastic arm is elastically restored to its original state in association with the lock arm is restored to its original state, whereby the detection member is allowed to be pushed into the deflection space.

Consequently, in such a state that the pair of connector housings are properly fitted in or on each other, since the detection member can be pushed into the deflection space, the operator can detect that the pair of connector housings are in the proper fitting state.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication Number 2004-71288

In the connector described above, however, since the elastic arm of the detection member is elastically deformed in association with the deflecting action of the lock arm, there has been a fear that the restoration force of the elastic arm is reduced as a result of the detection member being used a plurality of times, and there has been a possibility that the durability of the detection member is reduced.

In addition, the elastic arm of the detection member withdraws rearwards in the fitting direction of the connector housings and expands in a width direction of the detection member as a result of the deflecting action of the lock arm. Therefore, a space is necessary which permits the withdrawal of the detection member and the expansion of the elastic arm, calling for enlargement of the connector in size.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an advantage of some aspects of the invention to provide a connector which can increase the durability of a detection member and which can suppress the enlargement thereof in size.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing configured to be attached with the first housing;

an accommodating part provided in the first housing;

a first lock portion provided in the accommodating part and configured to be displaced;

a detection member accommodated in the accommodating part and configured to be displaced according to a displacement of the first lock portion;

a second lock portion provided in the second housing and configured to push the first lock portion to displace the first lock portion and to engaged with the first lock portion when the second housing is attached with the first housing;

a first restricting portion provided in the first lock portion;

a second restricting portion provided in the detection member and configured to be engaged with the first restricting portion when the first lock portion is displaced by the second lock portion; and

a release portion provided in the second housing and configured to release the first restricting portion from the second restricting portion when the first lock portion is engaged with the second lock portion.

The connector may further comprise a third restricting portion provided in the accommodating part; and a fourth restricting portion provided on the detection member and contacting the third restricting portion so as to restrict a movement of the detection member in a direction intersecting an inserting direction in which the second housing is inserted into the first housing to be attached therewith.

The connector may further comprise a fifth restricting portion provided in the accommodating part; and a sixth restricting portion provided in the detection member and contacting the fifth restricting portion so as to restrict a movement of the detection member in a direction opposite to an inserting direction in which the second housing is inserted into the first housing to be attached therewith.

The connector may be configured such that: the fifth restricting portion is a projection provided on the accommodating part, the sixth restricting portion is a groove formed on the detection member, and the projection is engaged with the groove.

The connector may further comprise a holding portion provided in the detection member and configured to come in contact with the second housing so as to hold a state where the detection member is released from the first housing when the first lock portion is engaged with the second lock portion.

The connector may further comprise: a groove formed on the detection member; and a projection provided on the accommodating part and engaged with the groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a female housing of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the female housing shown in FIG. 1A without an upper face of an accommodating part.

FIG. 1C is a sectional view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a detection member of the connector shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is another perspective view of the detection member shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is an enlarged view of FIG. 2C.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the female housing shown in FIG. 1A assembled with the detection member shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a side view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of FIG. 3B.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of FIG. 4A as viewed from an opposite side to the side shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a sectional view of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a male housing of the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing an initiating state of fitting of the pair of housings of the connector according to the first embodiment invention start.

FIG. 7B is a sectional view showing a state in which the fitting of the pair of housings is progressing from the state shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is an enlarged view of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a state in which the pair of housings of the connector according to the first embodiment of the invention are in the midst of fitting in or on each other.

FIG. 8B is a sectional view of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a sectional view showing a state in which the fitting of the pair of housings is progressing from the state shown in FIG. 7C.

FIG. 9B is a sectional view showing a state in which the fitting of the pair of housings is progressing from the state shown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the connector according to the first embodiment of the invention in which the pair of housings properly fit in or on each other.

FIG. 10B is a sectional view of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C is an enlarged view of FIG. 10B.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the connector according to the first embodiment of the invention in which the pair of housings properly fit in or on each other with the detection member removed.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of one housing of a connector according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13B is an enlarged view of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a detection member of the connector according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14B is an enlarged view of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 15A is a sectional view of the one housing of the connector according to the second embodiment of the invention with the detection member assembled thereto.

FIG. 15B is a sectional view of the connector of the second embodiment of the invention whose pair of housings are in the midst of fitting in or on each other.

FIG. 15C is a sectional view of the connector of the second embodiment of the invention whose pair of housings have properly fitted in or on each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplified embodiments of the invention are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A first embodiment will be described by FIGS. 1 to 12.

A connector 1 according to this embodiment includes a pair of housings 3, 5 which fit in or on each other and a detection member 7 which is assembled to a female housing 3 (a first housing), which constitutes one of the pair housings, for detecting a fitting condition of the pair of housings 3, 5. The female housing 3 includes an accommodating part 9 which defines a space for accommodating the detection member 7 and a lock band portion 11 (a first lock portion) which can be deflected into the accommodating part 9. A male housing 5 (a second housing), which constitutes the other housing, includes a lock portion 13 (a second lock portion) which deflects the lock band portion 11 so that the lock band portion 11 can ride thereover when the pair of housings 3, 5 are fitted together and on which the lock band portion 11 is locked in such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 are fitted together. In other words, the lock portion 13 pushes the lock band portion 11 to displace the lock band portion 11. The detection member 7 is disposed above the lock band portion 11 and varies its disposition position as the lock band portion 11 deflects.

A disassembling movement restricting portion 17 (a second restricting portion) is provided on the detection member 7. This disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is brought into engagement with a restricting portion 15 (a first restricting portion) provided on the lock band portion 11 in such a state that the lock band portion 11 is situated on the lock portion 13 so as to restrict the detection member 7 from moving in a disassembling direction relative to the female housing 3. A release portion 19 is provided on the male housing 5. This release portion 19 releases the engagement between the restricting portion 15 and the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 in such a state that the lock band portion 11 is locked on the lock portion 13 so as to release the restriction on the detection member 7 which restricts the detection member 7 from moving in the disassembling direction relative to the female housing 3.

In addition, a loosening restricting portion 23 (a fourth restricting portion) is provided on the detection member 7. This loosening restricting portion 23 is brought into abutment with a loose abutment restriction portion 21 (a third restricting portion) provided on the accommodating part 9 so as to be restricted from moving in a direction which intersects an inserting direction in which the male housing 5 is inserted into the female housing 3 to be fitted therewith.

Further, a movement restricting portion 27 (a sixth restricting portion) is provided on the detection member 7. This movement restricting portion 27 is brought into abutment with an abutting restricting portion 25 (a fifth restricting portion) provided on the accommodating part 9 so as to be restricted from moving in the assembling direction. The movement restricting portion can be restricted from moving in a direction opposite to the inserting direction.

Additionally, a holding portion 29 is provided on the detection member 7. This holding portion 29 is brought into abutment with the male housing 5 in such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 are in a proper fitting state so as to hold the disengagement of the restricting portion 15 from the disassembling movement restricting portion 17.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, the female housing 3 is formed into a cylindrical shape and has a plurality of terminal accommodating compartments 31 which are formed in an interior thereof. Terminals (not shown) are accommodated in the plurality of terminal accommodating compartments 31 and the terminals are electrically connected to electric wires (not shown). The lock band portion 11 is provided at an upper portion of the female housing 3 in FIG. 1A so as to deflect freely. A locking projecting portion 33 is provided at a leading end of the lock band portion 11 so as to project downwards in FIG. 4C. When the female housing 3 and the male housing 5 are fitted together, the lock band portion 11 holds the fitting state of the female housing 3 and the male housing 5 by the locking projecting portion 33 being locked on the lock portion 13 on the male housing 5.

The male housing 5 is formed into a cylindrical shape which is smaller in diameter than the female housing 3 and includes a plurality of terminal accommodating compartments 35 which are formed in an interior thereof. Mating terminals (not shown) are accommodated in the plurality of terminal accommodating compartments 35. The mating terminals are electrically connected to electric wires (not shown) and are also electrically connected to the terminals which are accommodated in the female housing 3. The lock portion 13 is provided on an upper face of an outer circumferential portion of the male housing 5 so as to project upwards in FIG. 7B. An inclined face is provided on the lock portion 13 which inclines towards a fitting direction into the female housing 3. The release portion 19 is provided to the rear of the lock portion 13 in the fitting direction, and a locking recess portion 37 is defined between the lock portion 13 and the release portion 19. When the lock portion 13 fits into the female housing 3, the lock band portion 11 of the female housing 3 is deflected upwards by the inclined face of the lock portion 13, and the locking projecting portion 33 is locked in the locking recess portion 37 by the locking projecting portion 33 on the lock band portion 11 riding over the lock portion 13, whereby the lock portion 13 and the lock band portion 11 are put in a locking state.

In the female housing 3 of the pair of housings 3, 5 which fit in or on each other, the accommodating part 9 is provided which defines a space portion above the lock band portion 11, and the detection member 7 is assembled into this accommodating part 9 which detects a fitting condition between the pair of housings 3, 5 based on whether or not the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing 3.

The detection member 7 is assembled into the accommodating part 9 so as to be disposed above the lock band portion 11. The disposition position of the detection member 7 then varies as the lock band portion 11 deflects. This detection member 7 includes the loosening restricting portion 23, the movement restricting portion 27, a fall restricting portion 39, the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the holding portion 29.

The loosening restricting portion 23 is made up of upper faces of a plurality of (in this embodiment, three) projecting portions which are provided on both side portions of the detection member 7. The loosening restricting portions 23 are in abutment with the loose abutment restricting portion 21 which is made up of lateral faces of the accommodating part 9 of the female housing 3 in such a state that the detection member 7 is assembled into the female housing 3. With the detection member 7 assembled into the female housing 3, by the abutment of the loosening restricting portions 23 with the loose abutment restricting portions 21, the detection member 7 is restricted from moving in the direction which intersects the inserting direction (in a lateral direction of the detection member 7). In other words, the loosening of the detection member 7 relative to the female housing 3 is restricted, thereby making it possible to hold the assembled state of the detection member 7 in the female housing 3 in a stable fashion. Note that while the plurality of loosening restricting portions 23 are provided on each of the lateral side portions of the detection member 7, only one loosening restricting portion 23 may be provided as long as the loosening of the detection member 7 can be restricted. In addition, two and more than three loosening restricting portions 23 may be provided to restrict the loosening of the detection member 7 further.

The movement restricting portion 27 is provided on an upper face of the detection member 7 so as to project therefrom and is brought into abutment with the abutting restricting portion 25 which constitutes an end face in the assembling direction of an upper side of the accommodating part 9 in FIG. 4C. By being brought into abutment with the abutting restricting portion 25 in such a state that the detection member 7 is assembled into the female housing 3, the movement restricting portion 27 restricts the detection member 7 from moving into the accommodating part 9 in the assembling direction so as to position the detection member 7 with respect to the female housing 3. The movement restricting portion 27 can be restricted from moving in the inserting direction. An initial position of the detection member 7 before the pair of housings 3, 5 are fitted together is held by the abutment between the movement restricting portion 27 and the abutting restricting portion 25.

The fall restricting portion 39 is made up of lower faces of portions which are provided on the detection member 7 on both side portions of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 thereof so as to project therefrom. The lower faces or fall restricting portions 39 are then brought into abutment with abutting fall restricting portions 41 which constitute part of the upper face of the lock band portion 11. The fall restricting portions 39 are brought into abutment with the abutting fall restricting portions 41 in such a state that the detection member 7 is assembled into the female housing 3 to thereby restrict the detection member 7 from falling downwards from a space defined in the lock band portion 11 which is formed into a bifurcate shape. By abutment between the fall restricting portions 39 and the abutting fall restricting portions 41, a posture of the detection member 7 can be stabilized which is taken when the detection member 7 moves in the assembling and disassembling directions relative to the female housing 3.

The disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is provided at a leading end of a plate-like portion of the detection member 7 which projects in the assembling direction so as to project downwards. The disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is brought into engagement with the restricting portion 15 which is provided at a branch portion of the lock band portion 11 which is formed into the bifurcate shape in such a state that the lock band portion 11 is situated on the lock portion 13. To describe in detail, when the lock band portion 11 deflects upwards, the disposition position of the detection member 7 is shifted upwards. As this occurs, an end portion in the assembling direction of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is brought into abutment with the release portion 19 of the male housing 5, whereby the detection member 7 is moved in the disassembling direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7C. In addition, since the lock band portion 11 is inclined towards the disassembling direction of the detection member 7, the detection member 7 is also moved in the disassembling direction by the inclination of the lock band portion 11. The movement of the detection member in the disassembling direction brings the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 into engagement with the restring portion 15. The detection member 7 is restricted from moving in the disassembling direction by the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion and the restricting portion 15, whereby the detection member 7 is prevented from being removed from the accommodating part 9 of the female housing 3. Because of this, in such a state that the lock band portion 11 is situated on the lock portion 13, that is, in such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 are not yet in the proper fitting state, the detection member 7 cannot be removed from the female housing 3, thereby making it possible to prevent an erroneous fitting of the pair of housings 3, 5. The engagement of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 with the restricting portion 15 is released by the release portion 19 provided on the male housing 5.

The release portion 19 is provided to the rear of the lock portion 13 in the fitting direction so as to project higher than the lock portion 13. The release portion 19 is brought into abutment with the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 in such a state that the lock band portion 11 is in engagement with the lock portion 13 so as to release the engagement between the restricting portion 15 and the disassembling movement restricting portion 17. To describe in detail, the locking projecting portion of the lock band portion 11 is brought into engagement with the locking recess portion 37, whereby the lock band portion 11 deflects downwards so as to attempt to shift the disposition position of the detection member 7 downwards. As this occurs, an inclined face formed at a leading end in the assembling direction of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 of the detection member 7 is brought into abutment with the release portion, whereby only the lock band portion is moved downwards while the disposition position of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 (the detection member 7) is held so that the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 rides on the release portion 19. In this way, by only the lock band portion 11 being moved downwards while the position of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is held in the way described above, the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the restricting portion 15 is released, whereby the detection member 7 can be removed from the accommodating part 9 of the female housing 9. Because of this, when the lock band portion 11 is in engagement with the lock portion 13, that is, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state, the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing 3, thereby making it possible to detect the proper fitting state of the pair of housings 3, 5. The disengagement of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 from the restricting portion 15 is held by the holding portion 29.

The holding portion 29 is made up of portions which are provided so as to project from lower faces of both side portions of the detection member 7. The holding portions 29 are brought into abutment with an abutting holding portion 43 provided at an end portion in the fitting direction of the male housing 5 in such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state so as to hold the disengagement of the restricting portion 15 from the disassembling movement restricting portion 17. To describe in detail, when the pair of housings 3, 5 fit in or on each other, the holding portions 29 are brought into abutment with the abutting holding portion 43. When the fitting of the pair of housings 3, 5 progresses further, the holding portions 29 ride on an upper portion of the abutting holding portion 43. With the holding portions 29 kept riding on the upper portion of the abutting holding portion 43, only the lock band portion 11 deflects downwards while the disposition position of the detection member 7 is held upwards. Because of this, in such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state, the disposition position of the detection member 7 can be held upwards by the holding portions 29, thereby making it possible to hold the disengagement of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the restricting portion 15. In addition, by the holding portions 29 riding on the upper portion of the abutting holding portion 43, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state, the detection member 7 is moved so as to be pushed upwards as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 10C, which can assist the removal of the detection member 7. In addition, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state, an upper face of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is brought into abutment with the abutting restricting portion 25, whereby the detection member is moved so as to be pushed upwards in the disassembling direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10C, which can assist the removal of the detection member 7.

In addition, a manipulating portion 45 is provided on the movement restricting portion 27 of the detection member 27 so as to be pinched with the finger and thumb of the operator. For example, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in a semi-fitting state, the detection member 7 cannot be removed by pinching the manipulating portion 45 due to the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the restricting portion 15. In contrast, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state, the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the restricting portion 15 is released, whereby the detection member 7 can be removed by pinching the manipulating portion 45. As this occurs, since the manipulating portion 45 is pushed out due to the holding portions 29 riding on the upper portion of the abutting holding portion 43 and the upper face of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 being brought into abutment with the abutting restricting portion 25, the pinching of the manipulating portion 45 is facilitated, thereby making it possible to remove the detection member 7 from the female housing 3 easily.

A fitting action of the pair of housings 3, 5 and a detecting action of the detection member 7 of the connector 1 configured as has been described heretofore will be described below.

Before the pair of housings 3, 5 are fitted together, in the detection member 7 and the female housing 3, the loosening restricting portions 23 are in abutment with the loose abutment restricting portions 21, the movement restricting portion 27 is in abutment with the abutting restricting portion 25, and the fall restricting portions 39 are in abutment with the abutting fall restricting portions 41, whereby the detection member 7 is restricted from moving in the direction which intersects the assembling direction, the assembling direction and the falling direction relative to the female housing 3. By the detection member 7 being restricted in the way described above, the detection member 7 can be positioned accurately with respect to the accommodating part 9 of the female housing 3 and can also be held in the position.

In the pair of housings 3, 5, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are started to be fitted together, the lock band portion 11 starts to ride on the upper portion of the lock portion 13. As this occurs, in the detection member 7 and the male housing 5, an end face in the assembling direction of the disassembling movement restriction portion 17 of the detection member 7 is brought into abutment with an end face of the release portion 19 of the male housing 5, and the detection member 7 starts to move in the disassembling direction.

In the midst of fitting of the pair of housings 3, 5 (or in the semi-fitting state thereof), in the pair of housings, 3, 5, the lock band portion 11 is deflected upwards by the lock portion 13, and the locking projecting portion 33 of the lock band portion 11 is situated on the lock portion 13. As this occurs, in the detection member 7 and the pair of housings 3, 5, the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 of the detection member 7 is brought into engagement with the restricting portion 15 of the lock band portion 11 while the abutment between the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the release portion 19 is held, whereby the detection member 7 is restricted from moving in the disassembling direction. When the fitting of the pair of housings 3, 5 is progress further, the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is situated on the release portion 19. However, when the locking projecting portion 33 of the lock band portion 11 is situated on the lock portion 13 (when the locking projecting portion 33 is not locked in the locking recess portion 37), the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the restricting portion 15 is held, whereby the detection member 7 is restricted from moving in the disassembling direction. Consequently, when the lock band portion 11 is not locked on the lock portion 13, that is, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the semi-fitting state, the detection member 7 cannot be removed from the female housing 3, thereby making it possible to detect that the pair of housings 3, 5 are not yet in the proper fitting state.

In such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 fit in or on each other in a proper fashion, in the pair of housings 3, 5, the locking projecting portion 33 of the lock band portion 11 rides over the lock portion 13 to thereby be locked in the locking recess portion 37. Then, the lock portion 13 and the lock band portion 11 are put in a locking state, whereby the fitting state of the pair of housings 3, 5 is held. As this occurs, in the detection member 7 and the pair of housings 3, 5, the lock band portion 11 is deflected downwards with the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 kept positioned on the release portion 19 by the engagement between the locking projecting portion 33 and the locking recess portion 37, whereby the engagement between the disassembling movement restriction portion 17 and the restricting portion 15 is released. Thus, the restriction on the detection member 7 is released which restricts the detection member 7 from moving the disassembling direction. In addition, the holding portions 29 of the detection member 7 are brought into abutment with the abutting holding portion 43 of the male housing 5, and the upper face of the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is brought into abutment with the abutting restricting portion 25 of the female housing 3, whereby the detection member 7 is moved so as to be pushed out of the accommodating part 9. By pinching the manipulating portion 45 of the detection member 7 to pull it out in the disassembling direction, the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing 3. Consequently, when the lock band portion 11 is locked on the lock portion 13 or when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state, the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing 3, thereby making it possible to detect that the pair of housings 3, 5 are now in the proper fitting state.

In this way, the fitting state of the pair of housings 3, 5 can be detected based on whether or not the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing 3, thereby making it possible to prevent an erroneous fitting of the pair of housings 3, 5.

In the connector 1 configured as has been described heretofore, the detection member 7 is disposed on the lock band portion 11 and the disposition position of the detection member 7 varies as the lock band portion 11 deflects. When the disposition position of the detection member 7 is shifted upwards with the lock band portion 11 situated on the lock portion 13, the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 provided on the detection member 7 is brought into engagement with the restricting portion 15 provided on the lock band portion 11, whereby the detection member 7 is restricted from moving in the disassembling direction relative to the female housing 3. Because of this, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are not yet in the proper fitting state, the detection member 7 cannot be removed from the female housing 3.

In addition, the engagement between the restricting portion 15 and the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 is released by the release portion 19 provided on the male housing 5 when the disposition position of the detection member 7 is shifted downwards with the lock band portion 11 locked on the lock portion 13. Thus, the restriction on the detection member 7 is released which restricts the detection member 7 from moving in the disassembling direction relative to the female housing 3. Because of this, when the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state, the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing 3.

In this way, a fitting condition of the pair of housings 3, 5 can be detected based on whether or not the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing 3.

The constructions of restricting and releasing the restriction on the disassembling of the detection member 7 are provided on the lock band portion 11 which is provided so as to be deflected into the accommodating part 9 and the male housing which fits in the female housing 3. Then, the disposition position of the detection member 7 is caused to vary as the lock band portion 11 deflects so as to restrict or release the restriction on the disassembling of the detection member 7. Therefore, a deformable portion does not have to be provided on the detection member 7. In addition, the detection member 7 does not have to perform any expanding action in which the detection member 7 expands outwards of the accommodating part 9 or the pair of housings 3, 5. Therefore, no space has to be provided outside the accommodating part 9 or the pair of housings 3, 5 to permit the expanding action of the detection member 7.

Consequently, the detection member 7 is not deformed even though it is used a plurality of times, thereby making it possible to increase the durability of the detection member 7. In addition, the detection member 7 is not deformed in any way, and therefore, no space has to be provided for permitting the deformation of the detection member 7, thereby making it possible to suppress the enlargement in size of the connector 1.

In addition, the loosening restricting portions 23 are provided on the detection member 7 which are brought into abutment with the loose abutment restricting portions 21 provided on the accommodating part 9 so as to be restricted from moving in the direction which intersects the assembling direction. Therefore, there is no such situation that the detection member 7 gets loose relative to the female housing 3, thereby making it possible to hold the assemblage of the detection member 7 to the female housing in a stable fashion.

Further, the movement restricting portion 27 is provided on the detection member 7 which is brought into abutment with the abutting restricting portion 25 provided on the accommodating part 9 so as to be restricted from moving in the assembling direction. Therefore, the detection member 7 can be positioned relative to the female housing 3, thereby making it possible to hold the assemblage of the detection member 3 to the female housing in an ensured fashion.

In addition, the holding portions 29 are provided on the detection member 7 which are brought into abutment with the male housing in such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the proper fitting state so as to hold the disengaged state between the restricting portion 15 and the disassembling movement restricting portion 17. Therefore, the detection member 7 can be removed from the female housing in an ensured fashion in such a state that the pair of housings 3, 5 are in the properly fitting state.

A second embodiment will be described by use of FIGS. 13 to 15.

In a connector 101 according to this embodiment, a projection 103 is provided so as to project within an accommodating part 9. A sliding groove 105 is brought into sliding engagement with the projection 103. Like reference numerals will be given to constituent members of this embodiment which are like to those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. Since the constituent members are like to those of the first embodiment, the description of configurations and functions thereof will be omitted while being referred to those of the first embodiment. An advantage to be obtained by the second embodiment is the same as that obtained by the first embodiment.

As is shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the projection 103 is provided on both side faces of the accommodating part 9 so as to project inwards. The sliding groove 105 provided on the detection member 7 is brought into engagement with the projections 103 in such a state that the detection member 7 is assembled into a female housing 3.

The sliding groove 105 are provided on both side faces of the detection member 7, and end portions thereof in an assembling direction in which the detection member 7 is assembled into the accommodating part 9 are opened to be formed into openings 107, while end portions in a disassembling direction in which the detection member 7 is disassembled from the accommodating part 9 is formed into bottom portion 109. A distance from the opening 107 to the bottom portion 109 is set so that an initial assembling position of the detection member 7 to a female housing 3 constitutes a normal position in such a state that the projection 103 is in abutment with the bottom portion 109 when the projection 103 is inserted into the sliding groove 105. In addition, the position of the opening 107 is set so that the projection 103 is situated thereat when the engagement of a disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and a restricting portion 15 is released.

Because of this, when the detection member 7 is assembled into the female housing 3, the projection 103 is inserted into the sliding groove 105 from the openings 107, and the detection member 7 is moved in the assembling direction until the projections 103 come into abutment with the corresponding bottom portion 109. Then, the detection member 7 cannot move any further in the assembling direction, whereby the initial position of the detection member 7 with respect to the female housing 3 can be determined. In addition, the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 comes into abutment with a release portion 19, and holding portion 29 come into abutment with abutting holding portions 41, whereby the detection member 7 is moved into the disassembling direction. This causes the projections 103 to move in the assembling direction while sliding within the sliding groove 105 so as to release the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the restricting portion 15, whereupon the projection 103 is situated at the openings 107. Thus, the engagement between the projection 103 and the sliding groove 105 can be released.

Note that shapes of the projection 103 and the sliding groove 105 are set so that the detection member 7 can move to take a posture which enables the facilitation of restriction on disassembling or release of the restriction in accordance with a change in the disposition position of the detection member 7. In addition, the detection member 7 cannot be removed from an upper portion of the female housing 3 from a point in time when the pair of housings 3, 5 are started to be fitted together until a point in time when they are put in a proper fitting state by the engagement of the projection 103 with the sliding groove 105. This can improve the detecting function of the detection member 7 together with the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion 17 and the restricting portion 15.

In the connector 101 configured as has been described heretofore, since the abutting restricting portion is made up of the projection 103 provided on the accommodating part 9 so as to project thereinto and the movement restricting portion is made up of the sliding groove 105 with which the projection 103 is brought into sliding engagement. Therefore, by setting the position of the projection 103 and the shape of the sliding groove 105 so that the detection member 7 can take the posture which enables the facilitation of restriction on disassembling or release of the restriction in accordance with the change in the disposition position of the detection member 7, a fitting condition of the pair of housings 3, 5 can be detected by the detection member 7 in an ensured fashion.

Although only some exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciated that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

Note that in the connector according to the embodiments of the invention, while the engagement between the disassembling movement restricting portion and the restricting portion is implemented by the movement of the detection member in the disassembling direction, the disassembling movement restricting portion and the restricting portion may be set so as to come into engagement with each other in such a stage that the detection member is assembled to one of the housings. As this occurs, since the detection member does not have to move in the disassembling direction, a further reduction in size of the connector can be realized.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2009-180550 filed Aug. 3, 2009 including specifications, drawings and claims are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing configured to be attached with the first housing;

an accommodating part provided in the first housing;

a first lock portion provided in the accommodating part and configured to be displaced;

a detection member accommodated in the accommodating part and configured to be displaced according to a displacement of the first lock portion;

a second lock portion provided in the second housing and configured to push the first lock portion to displace the first lock portion and to engaged with the first lock portion when the second housing is attached with the first housing;

a first restricting portion provided in the first lock portion;

a second restricting portion provided in the detection member and configured to be engaged with the first restricting portion when the first lock portion is displaced by the second lock portion; and

a release portion provided in the second housing and configured to release the first restricting portion from the second restricting portion when the first lock portion is engaged with the second lock portion.

2. The connector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a third restricting portion provided in the accommodating part; and

a fourth restricting portion provided on the detection member and contacting the third restricting portion so as to restrict a movement of the detection member in a direction intersecting an inserting direction in which the second housing is inserted into the first housing to be attached therewith.

3. The connector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth restricting portion provided in the accommodating part; and

a sixth restricting portion provided in the detection member and contacting the fifth restricting portion so as to restrict a movement of the detection member in a direction opposite to an inserting direction in which the second housing is inserted into the first housing to be attached therewith.

4. The connector as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the fifth restricting portion is a projection provided on the accommodating part,

the sixth restricting portion is a groove formed on the detection member, and

the projection is engaged with the groove.

5. The connector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a holding portion provided in the detection member and configured to come in contact with the second housing so as to hold a state where the detection member is released from the first housing when the first lock portion is engaged with the second lock portion.

6. The connector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a groove formed on the detection member; and

a projection provided on the accommodating part and engaged with the groove.